Strings, Numbers, and Variables

Perl can deal with an astonishing number of data types, including but not limited to text, integers, floating point numbers, complex numbers, and binary numbers. 

Following a long computer science tradition of using obscure terms for simple concepts, the Perl term for text is string. Strings are surrounded by single or double quotation marks  

Having two types of quotation marks available makes it easier to create strings that contain embedded quotation marks  

There are also some more substantial differences between the two types of quotes that will be discussed later in this chapter under Variable Interpolation. 

The last example shows how one represents scientific notation. The E means exponent, and the number should be interpreted as 6.02 10.  

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