NAME
    Params::Util - Simple, compact and correct param-checking functions

SYNOPSIS
      # Import some functions
      use Params::Util qw{_SCALAR _HASH _INSTANCE};
  
      # If you are lazy, or need a lot of them...
      use Params::Util ':ALL';
  
      sub foo {
          my $object  = _INSTANCE(shift, 'Foo') or return undef;
          my $image   = _SCALAR(shift)          or return undef;
          my $options = _HASH(shift)            or return undef;
          # etc...
      }

DESCRIPTION
    "Params::Util" provides a basic set of importable functions that makes
    checking parameters a hell of a lot easier

    While they can be (and are) used in other contexts, the main point
    behind this module is that the functions both Do What You Mean, and Do
    The Right Thing, so they are most useful when you are getting params
    passed into your code from someone and/or somewhere else and you can't
    really trust the quality.

    Thus, "Params::Util" is of most use at the edges of your API, where
    params and data are coming in from outside your code.

    The functions provided by "Params::Util" check in the most strictly
    correct manner known, are documented as thoroughly as possible so their
    exact behaviour is clear, and heavily tested so make sure they are not
    fooled by weird data and Really Bad Things.

    To use, simply load the module providing the functions you want to use
    as arguments (as shown in the SYNOPSIS).

    To aid in maintainability, "Params::Util" will never export by default.

    You must explicitly name the functions you want to export, or use the
    ":ALL" param to just have it export everything (although this is not
    recommended if you have any _FOO functions yourself with which future
    additions to "Params::Util" may clash)

FUNCTIONS
  _STRING $string
    The "_STRING" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test to see if a value is a normal
    non-false string of non-zero length.

    Note that this will NOT do anything magic to deal with the special '0'
    false negative case, but will return it.

      # '0' not considered valid data
      my $name = _STRING(shift) or die "Bad name";
  
      # '0' is considered valid data
      my $string = _STRING($_[0]) ? shift : die "Bad string";

    Please also note that this function expects a normal string. It does not
    support overloading or other magic techniques to get a string.

    Returns the string as a conveince if it is a valid string, or "undef" if
    not.

  _IDENTIFIER $string
    The "_IDENTIFIER" function is intended to be imported into your package,
    and provides a convenient way to test to see if a value is a string that
    is a valid Perl identifier.

    Returns the string as a convenience if it is a valid identifier, or
    "undef" if not.

  _CLASS $string
    The "_CLASS" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test to see if a value is a string that is
    a valid Perl class.

    This function only checks that the format is valid, not that the class
    is actually loaded. It also assumes "normalised" form, and does not
    accept class names such as "::Foo" or "D'Oh".

    Returns the string as a convenience if it is a valid class name, or
    "undef" if not.

  _POSINT $integer
    The "_POSINT" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test to see if a value is a positive
    integer (of any length).

    Returns the value as a convience, or "undef" if the value is not a
    positive integer.

  _SCALAR \$scalar
    The "_SCALAR" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for a raw and unblessed "SCALAR"
    reference, with content of non-zero length.

    For a version that allows zero length "SCALAR" references, see the
    "_SCALAR0" function.

    Returns the "SCALAR" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if
    the value provided is not a "SCALAR" reference.

  _SCALAR0 \$scalar
    The "_SCALAR0" function is intended to be imported into your package,
    and provides a convenient way to test for a raw and unblessed "SCALAR0"
    reference, allowing content of zero-length.

    For a simpler "give me some content" version that requires non-zero
    length, "_SCALAR" function.

    Returns the "SCALAR" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if
    the value provided is not a "SCALAR" reference.

  _ARRAY $value
    The "_ARRAY" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for a raw and unblessed "ARRAY"
    reference containing at least one element of any kind.

    For a more basic form that allows zero length ARRAY references, see the
    "_ARRAY0" function.

    Returns the "ARRAY" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the
    value provided is not an "ARRAY" reference.

  _ARRAY0 $value
    The "_ARRAY0" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for a raw and unblessed "ARRAY"
    reference, allowing "ARRAY" references that contain no elements.

    For a more basic "An array of something" form that also requires at
    least one element, see the "_ARRAY" function.

    Returns the "ARRAY" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the
    value provided is not an "ARRAY" reference.

  _ARRAYLIKE $value
    The "_ARRAYLIKE" function tests whether a given scalar value can respond
    to array dereferencing. If it can, the value is returned. If it cannot,
    "_ARRAYLIKE" returns "undef".

  _HASH $value
    The "_HASH" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for a raw and unblessed "HASH"
    reference with at least one entry.

    For a version of this function that allows the "HASH" to be empty, see
    the "_HASH0" function.

    Returns the "HASH" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the
    value provided is not an "HASH" reference.

  _HASH0 $value
    The "_HASH0" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for a raw and unblessed "HASH"
    reference, regardless of the "HASH" content.

    For a simpler "A hash of something" version that requires at least one
    element, see the "_HASH" function.

    Returns the "HASH" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the
    value provided is not an "HASH" reference.

  _HASHLIKE $value
    The "_HASHLIKE" function tests whether a given scalar value can respond
    to hash dereferencing. If it can, the value is returned. If it cannot,
    "_HASHLIKE" returns "undef".

  _CODE $value
    The "_CODE" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for a raw and unblessed "CODE"
    reference.

    Returns the "CODE" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the
    value provided is not an "CODE" reference.

  _CODELIKE $value
    The "_CODELIKE" is the more generic version of "_CODE". Unlike "_CODE",
    which checks for an explicit "CODE" reference, the "_CODELIKE" function
    also includes things that act like them, such as blessed objects that
    overload '&{}'.

    Note that in the case of objects overloaded with '&{}', you will almost
    always end up also testing it in 'bool' context. As such, you will most
    often want to make sure your class has the following to allow it to
    evaluate to true in boolean context.

      # Always evaluate to true in boolean context
      use overload 'bool' => sub () { 1 };

    Returns the callable value as a convenience, or "undef" if the value
    provided is not callable.

    Note: This function was formerly known as _CODELIKE but has been renamed
    for greater symmetry with the other _XXXXLIKE functions.

    It will continue to work silently until end-May 2006, then with a
    warning until end-August 2006, then will be deprecated.

    I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

  _INSTANCE $object, $class
    The "_INSTANCE" function is intended to be imported into your package,
    and provides a convenient way to test for an object of a particular
    class in a strictly correct manner.

    Returns the object itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the value
    provided is not an object of that type.

  _INVOCANT $value
    This routine tests whether the given value is a valid method invocant.
    If so, the value itself is returned. Otherwise, "_INVOCANT" returns
    "undef".

  _SET \@array, $class
    The "_SET" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for set of at least one object of a
    particular class in a strictly correct manner.

    The set is provided as a reference to an "ARRAY" of objects of the class
    provided.

    For an alternative function that allows zero-length sets, see the
    "_SET0" function.

    Returns the "ARRAY" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the
    value provided is not a set of that class.

  _SET0 \@array, $class
    The "_SET0" function is intended to be imported into your package, and
    provides a convenient way to test for set of objects of a particular
    class in a strictly correct manner, allowing for zero objects.

    The set is provided as a reference to an "ARRAY" of objects of the class
    provided.

    For an alternative function that requires at least one object, see the
    "_SET" function.

    Returns the "ARRAY" reference itself as a convenience, or "undef" if the
    value provided is not a set of that class.

TO DO
    - Add _CAN to help resolve the UNIVERSAL::can debacle

    - More comprehensive tests for _SET and _SET0

    - Would be nice if someone would re-implement in XS for me? (donish)

    - Would be even nicer if someone would demonstrate how the hell to build
    a Module::Install dist of the ::Util dual Perl/XS type. :/

    - Implement an assertion-like version of this module, that dies on
    error.

SUPPORT
    Bugs should be reported via the CPAN bug tracker at

    <http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/ReportBug.html?Queue=Params-Util>

    For other issues, contact the author.

AUTHOR
    Adam Kennedy <cpan@ali.as>, <http://ali.as/>

COPYRIGHT
    Copyright 2005, 2006 Adam Kennedy. All rights reserved.

    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
    under the same terms as Perl itself.

    The full text of the license can be found in the LICENSE file included
    with this module.