Conventions Used in This Book

Sams Teach Yourself Perl in 24 Hours uses a number of conventions that are consistent throughout this book:

Each hour begins with an overview of what you will learn.
Step-by-step instructions are preceded by a To Do icon.
Every hour ends with a summary and a series of commonly asked questions and answers; hopefully, you'll find the answers to your questions among them.

In addition, these elements appear throughout the book:

By the Way

Notes provide you with comments and asides about the topic at hand.

Did you Know?

Tips offer shortcuts and hints on getting the task done.

Watch Out!

Cautions explain roadblocks you might encounter when you work with Perl and tell you how to avoid them.

New terms are emphasized by being placed in bold for your easy reference.