Tie::Handle(3perl) Perl Programmers Reference Guide Tie::Handle(3perl)
NAME
Tie::Handle - base class definitions for tied handles
SYNOPSIS
package NewHandle;
require Tie::Handle;
@ISA = qw(Tie::Handle);
sub READ { ... } # Provide a needed method
sub TIEHANDLE { ... } # Overrides inherited method
package main;
tie *FH, 'NewHandle';
DESCRIPTION
This module provides some skeletal methods for handle-tying classes. See
perltie for a list of the functions required in tying a handle to a
package. The basic Tie::Handle package provides a "new" method, as well
as methods "TIEHANDLE", "PRINT", "PRINTF" and "GETC".
For developers wishing to write their own tied-handle classes, the
methods are summarized below. The perltie section not only documents
these, but has sample code as well:
TIEHANDLE classname, LIST
The method invoked by the command "tie *glob, classname". Associates
a new glob instance with the specified class. "LIST" would represent
additional arguments (along the lines of AnyDBM_File and
compatriots) needed to complete the association.
WRITE this, scalar, length, offset
Write length bytes of data from scalar starting at offset.
PRINT this, LIST
Print the values in LIST
PRINTF this, format, LIST
Print the values in LIST using format
READ this, scalar, length, offset
Read length bytes of data into scalar starting at offset.
READLINE this
Read a single line
GETC this
Get a single character
CLOSE this
Close the handle
OPEN this, filename
(Re-)open the handle
BINMODE this
Specify content is binary
EOF this
Test for end of file.
TELL this
Return position in the file.
SEEK this, offset, whence
Position the file.
Test for end of file.
DESTROY this
Free the storage associated with the tied handle referenced by this.
This is rarely needed, as Perl manages its memory quite well. But
the option exists, should a class wish to perform specific actions
upon the destruction of an instance.
MORE INFORMATION
The perltie section contains an example of tying handles.
COMPATIBILITY
This version of Tie::Handle is neither related to nor compatible with
the Tie::Handle (3.0) module available on CPAN. It was due to an
accident that two modules with the same name appeared. The namespace
clash has been cleared in favor of this module that comes with the perl
core in September 2000 and accordingly the version number has been
bumped up to 4.0.
perl v5.40.1 2026-08-30 Tie::Handle(3perl)
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