column_number

This method returns the column number of the first character in the element, or "undef" if that can not be determined.

content

say $token->content();

This method returns the text that makes up the token.

error

say $token->error();

This method returns the error text. This will be "undef" unless the token actually represents an error.

line_number

This method returns the line number of the first character in the element, or "undef" if that can not be determined.

location

This method returns a reference to an array describing the position of the element in the string, or "undef" if the location is unavailable.

The array is compatible with the corresponding PPI::Element method.

logical_filename

This method returns the logical file name (taking "#line" directives into account) of the file containing first character in the element, or "undef" if that can not be determined.

logical_line_number

This method returns the logical line number (taking "#line" directives into account) of the first character in the element, or "undef" if that can not be determined.

parent

my $parent = $token->parent();

This method returns the token's parent, which will be the PPIx::QuoteLike object that contains it.

next_sibling

my $next = $token->next_sibling();

This method returns the token after the invocant, or nothing if there is none.

perl_version_introduced

This method returns the version of Perl in which the element was introduced. This will be at least 5.000. Before 5.006 I am relying on the perldelta, perlre, and perlop documentation, since I have been unable to build earlier Perls. Since I have found no documentation before 5.003, I assume that anything found in 5.003 is also in 5.000.

Since this all depends on my ability to read and understand masses of documentation, the results of this method should be viewed with caution, if not downright skepticism.

There are also cases which are ambiguous in various ways. For those see "RESTRICTIONS" in PPIx::Regexp, and especially "Changes in Syntax" in PPIx::Regexp.

perl_version_removed

This method returns the version of Perl in which the element was removed. If the element is still valid the return is "undef".

All the caveats to perl_version_introduced() apply here also, though perhaps less severely since although many features have been introduced since 5.0, few have been removed.

previous_sibling

my $prev = $token->previous_sibling();

This method returns the token before the invocant, or nothing if there is none.

significant

$token->significant()
    and say 'significant';

This Boolean method returns a true value if the token is significant, and a false one otherwise.

snext_sibling

my $next = $token->snext_sibling();

This method returns the significant token after the invocant, or nothing if there is none.

sprevious_sibling

my $prev = $token->sprevious_sibling();

This method returns the significant token before the invocant, or nothing if there is none.

statement

This method returns the PPI::Statement that contains this token, or nothing if the statement can not be determined.

In general this method will return something only under the following conditions:

• The token is contained in a PPIx::QuoteLike object;
• That object was initialized from a PPI::Element;
• The PPI::Element is contained in a statement.

top

This method returns the top of the hierarchy.

variables

say "Interpolates $_" for $elem->variables();

NOTE that this method is discouraged, and may well be deprecated and removed. I have two problems with it. The first is that it returns variable names rather than PPI::Element objects, leaving you no idea how the variables are used. The second is that it does not properly handle things like "${^CAPTURE[0]}", and it seems infeasible to make it do so. It was originally written for the benefit of Perl::Critic::Policy::Variables::ProhibitUnusedVarsStricter, but has proven inadequate to that policy's needs.

This convenience method returns all interpolated variables. Each is returned only once, and they are returned in no particular order.

NOTE that because this class does not represent an interpolation, this method returns nothing.

visual_column_number

This method returns the visual column number (taking tabs into account) of the first character in the element, or "undef" if that can not be determined.