Can you explain the difference between a package and a module in Perl?

In Perl, a package and a module are similar concepts but they have a few distinct differences.

A package is a container for a collection of related variables, subroutines, and other code. Packages are used to organize and encapsulate code, providing a way to separate code into different logical units. Packages also provide a way to prevent naming conflicts by providing a namespace for variables and subroutines. Packages are defined using the "package" keyword, like this:

package MyPackage; sub my_sub { # code here }

A module is a special type of package that is used for code reuse and distribution. A module is a collection of related code that can be reused by other parts of the program. Modules are typically stored in separate files, and can be loaded into a program using the "use" or "require" statements. For example, to use the MyModule module, you would write:

use MyModule;

or

require MyModule;

Modules can provide a number of features, such as:

• Encapsulation of code and data
• Namespacing
• Code reuse
• Distribution

Modules are typically stored in the Perl's library path, which is a location where Perl looks for modules by default.

In summary, both packages and modules are used to organize and encapsulate code, but modules are typically used for code reuse and distribution, while packages are used for organizing and encapsulating code within a single program. Modules can be distributed as separate files, and can be loaded into a program using the "use" or "require" statements.