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# PERL exec Function

## Syntax

exec EXPR LIST exec LIST

## Definition and Usage

Executes a system command (directly, not within a shell) and never returns to the calling script, except if the command specified does not exist and has been called directly, instead of indirectly through a shell. The operation works as follows:

- If there is only one scalar argument that contains no shell metacharacters, then the argument is converted into a list and the command is executed directly, without a shell.
- If there is only one scalar argument that contains shell metacharacters, then the argument is executed through the standard shell, usually /bin/sh on Unix.
- If LIST is more than one argument, or an array with more than one value, then the command is executed directly without the use of a shell.

## Return Value

- 0 only if the command specified cannot be executed

## Example

Following are the usage...

        exec '/bin/echo', 'Your arguments are: ', @ARGV;
        exec "sort $outfile | uniq";

Another example:

        exec {'/bin/csh'} '-sh';	# pretend it's a login shell

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