binmode \*STDOUT, ':utf8'; my $u_temp = "Temperature:350\x{00B0}F html:°"; my $smiley = "Smiley:\x{263a}"; my $price_label = "Price:\x{20AC}9.99"; print 'is degree' if utf8::is_utf8( $u_temp ); print 'is smiley' if utf8::is_utf8( $smiley ); print 'is price label' if utf8::is_utf8( $price_label );