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in reply to Re: Subroutines: Returning a hash vs. hash reference
in thread Subroutines: Returning a hash vs. hash reference

/me mutters something along the lines of "Why didn't I think of that?" :)

Anyhow, I went as far as 2000x2000 and got the following results:

return hash takes: 32 secs return hash REF takes: 11 secs
This demonstrates that hash REFs do indeed run much faster. I suppose that returning a regular hash requires that the interpreter copy the data structure... likely doubling the memory required to keep the data structure memorized.

Thanks a lot, I do believe I have got an answer to my "problem".

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Re: Re: Re: Subroutines: Returning a hash vs. hash reference
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Nov 28, 2002 at 04:56 UTC

    It's actually worse than just copying the data structure...it first flattens the structure to a list of (key0, value0, key1, value1,...) then has to re-construct the hash by re-hashing all the keys. Its the latter part that takes most of the time.


    Okay you lot, get your wings on the left, halos on the right. It's one size fits all, and "No!", you can't have a different color.
    Pick up your cloud down the end and "Yes" if you get allocated a grey one they are a bit damp under foot, but someone has to get them.
    Get used to the wings fast cos its an 8 hour day...unless the Govenor calls for a cyclone or hurricane, in which case 16 hour shifts are mandatory.
    Just be grateful that you arrived just as the tornado season finished. Them buggers are real work.