NAME Tie::HashDefaults - Let a hash have default values SYNOPSIS use Tie::HashDefaults; tie %h, 'Tie::HashDefaults', \%defaults1, \%defaults0; DESCRIPTION This creates a data structure which is essentially an array of hashes; this list contains all the hashes (passed by ref) in the argument list; but it also contains a new, internally created, anonymous hash. This hash is used to store any insertions into the tied hash. Whenever a fetch (or an exists) is done on the tied hash, the requested key is searched for in each hash in the list, beginning with the internal "storage" hash; if it is not found in that hash, the key is looked for in the first default hash, then the next, and so on, until it is found in one of them, or there are none left to search. When an iteration (keys or each) is done on the tied hash, the set of keys returned is the union of keys from all of the default hashes, along with the storage hash. For operations that alter a hash -- store, delete, clear -- the default hashes are never touched. Only the storage hash is cleared. One effect of this is that if the tied hash is cleared, e.g. via %h = ();, and immediately following that an iteration is started (via keys or each), it is likely that some keys will be returned. (Unless, of course, there is no data in any of the given default hashes.) Manipulating the Defaults List The list of default hashes can be manipulated directly. To do this, a special method on the tied object returns an array, by reference, containing the list of default hashes. Any changes to this array are reflected inside the Tie::HashDefaults object. For example, to add another defaults source that takes precedence over the others already on the list: unshift @{ tied(%h)->get_defaults_list }, \%new_default_source; Or, to reverse the order in which the defaults are consulted: $ar = tied(%h)->get_defaults_list; @$ar = reverse @$ar; (Once you have the array-ref "handle" on the defaults list array, it's good for as long as the tied object stays tied.) NOTE: calling get_defaults_list also resets the iterator; so don't call it within an each loop on a hash tied to this class. AUTHOR (John Porter) COPYRIGHT This is free software. This software may be modified and distributed under the same terms as Perl itself.