The modules described in this document make extensive use of the Perl double-typed scalar facility. The double-typed scalar facility allows a scalar value to behave either as an integer or as a string, depending upon the context. This behavior is the same as exhibited by the $! Perl variable (errno). The double-typed scalar facility avoids the need to map from an integer value into the corresponding string in order to display a value. The following example illustrates the use of double-typed scalars.
# Assume $obj is a Sun::Solaris::Item my $type = $obj->type(); # prints out "2 EO_ITEM" printf("%d %s\n", $type, $type); # Behaves as an integer, $i == 2 my $i = 0 + $type; # Behaves as a string, $s = "abc EO_ITEM xyx" my $s = "abc $type xyz";