Perl module: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:03, 7 March 2013

Revision as of 12:04, 13 July 2013

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A '''Perl module''' is a discrete component of software for the [[Perl]] programming language. Technically, it is a particular set of conventions for using Perl's [[#Perl packages and namespaces|package]] mechanism that has become universally adopted.{{discuss|Packages and modules}}

A module defines its source code to be in a ''package'' (much like a [[Java package]]), the Perl mechanism for defining [[Namespace (computer science)|namespaces]], e.g. ''CGI'' or ''Net::FTP'' or ''XML::Parser''; the file structure mirrors the namespace structure (e.g. the [[source code]] for ''Net::FTP'' is in ''Net/FTP.pm''). Furthermore, a module is the Perl equivalent of the [[class (computer science)|class]] when [[object-oriented programming]] is employed.{{discuss|Packages and modules}}

A collection of modules, with accompanying documentation, build scripts, and usually a test suite, compose a '''distribution'''. The Perl community has a sizable library of distributions available for search and download via [[CPAN]].