Special package variables when using sort(), see L<perlfunc/sort>.
Because of this specialness $a and $b don't need to be declared
(using local(), use vars, or our()) even when using the strict
-vars pragma.
+vars pragma. Don't lexicalize them with C<my $a> or C<my $b>
+if you want to be able to use them in the sort() comparison block
+or function.
=back
=item $@
-The Perl syntax error message from the last eval() operator. If null, the
-last eval() parsed and executed correctly (although the operations you
-invoked may have failed in the normal fashion). (Mnemonic: Where was
-the syntax error "at"?)
+The Perl syntax error message from the last eval() operator.
+If $@ is the null string, the last eval() parsed and executed
+correctly (although the operations you invoked may have failed in the
+normal fashion). (Mnemonic: Where was the syntax error "at"?)
Warning messages are not collected in this variable. You can,
however, set up a routine to process warnings by setting C<$SIG{__WARN__}>