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From: PerlFAQ Server on 28 May 2010 12:00
This is an excerpt from the latest version perlfaq7.pod, which
comes with the standard Perl distribution. These postings aim to
reduce the number of repeated questions as well as allow the community
to review and update the answers. The latest version of the complete
perlfaq is at http://faq.perl.org .

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7.17: What's the difference between dynamic and lexical (static) scoping? Between local() and my()?

"local($x)" saves away the old value of the global variable $x and
assigns a new value for the duration of the subroutine *which is visible
in other functions called from that subroutine*. This is done at
run-time, so is called dynamic scoping. local() always affects global
variables, also called package variables or dynamic variables.

"my($x)" creates a new variable that is only visible in the current
subroutine. This is done at compile-time, so it is called lexical or
static scoping. my() always affects private variables, also called
lexical variables or (improperly) static(ly scoped) variables.

For instance:

sub visible {
print "var has value $var\n";
}

sub dynamic {
local $var = 'local'; # new temporary value for the still-global
visible(); # variable called $var
}

sub lexical {
my $var = 'private'; # new private variable, $var
visible(); # (invisible outside of sub scope)
}

$var = 'global';

visible(); # prints global
dynamic(); # prints local
lexical(); # prints global

Notice how at no point does the value "private" get printed. That's
because $var only has that value within the block of the lexical()
function, and it is hidden from called subroutine.

In summary, local() doesn't make what you think of as private, local
variables. It gives a global variable a temporary value. my() is what
you're looking for if you want private variables.

See "Private Variables via my()" in perlsub and "Temporary Values via
local()" in perlsub for excruciating details.



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