f the reference count of $h goes to zero, it is automatically freed by perl,

But why does it go to zero where it does.

package H;
sub DESTROY { print "DESTROY\n"; }

sub new { my $class = shift; bless {}, $class; }

{
    print \$h, "\n";
    if(my $h = H->new()) {
        print \$h, "\n";
    }
    print \$h, "\n";     # <- This references the package var
                         #    and would cause a strict error.
                         #    Object is no longer accessible.

    print "why now?\n";
}                        # <- The object is only destroyed here.
[download]

SCALAR(0x1829aac)
REF(0x1829abc)
SCALAR(0x1829aac)
why now?
DESTROY
[download]

IMO the $h is visible entirely to the outer {} rather than 'if' block. I have to check the docs.

UPDATE
thanks to citromatik, but I know that the $h should get deallocated immediately after the 'if' block, but the example shown has confused me a bit, so I just coined my guess!. that is why i put 'In my opinion'. This is kind of learning about DESTROY and I will take it gleefully.

---

Vivek
-- In accordance with the prarabdha of each, the One whose function it is to ordain makes each to act. What will not happen will never happen, whatever effort one may put forth. And what will happen will not fail to happen, however much one may seek to prevent it. This is certain. The part of wisdom therefore is to stay quiet.

It's definitely out of scope.

package H;
sub DESTROY { print "DESTROY\n"; }

sub new { my $class = shift; bless {}, $class; }
sub foo { }

package main;

{
    if ( my $h = H->new() ) {
        print "IN\n";
        $h->foo;
    }
    print "\$h out of scope?\n";
    eval { $h->foo };
    print $@ if $@;
}
print "why now?\n";

IN
$h out of scope?
Can't call method "foo" on an undefined value at /home/me/tmp/pm757929
+.pl line 15.
DESTROY
why now?
[download]

IMO the $h is visible entirely to the outer {} rather than 'if' block

No, it is not, a variable "lives" in the most inner block of code where it has been declared. If it is declared in an "if" condition or in a loop initialization, it is accessible only inside the "if" or loop block.

citromatik