Sub::Defer(3)

✨ NAME ✨

This is Sub::Defer(3), from the User Contributed Perl Documentation. Bestie, it's literally Sub::Defer — defer generation of subroutines until they are first called. Periodt. 💅

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

use Sub::Defer;

my $deferred = defer_sub 'Logger::time_since_first_log' => sub {
   my $t = time;
   sub { time - $t };
};

 Logger->time_since_first_log; # returns 0 and replaces itself
 Logger->time_since_first_log; # returns time - $t

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

Okay so these subroutines give you a convenient way to defer creation of subroutines and methods until they are first called. That's the whole vibe. ✨

👑 SUBROUTINES 👑

defer_sub

my $coderef = defer_sub $name => sub { ... }, \%options;

This subroutine returns a coderef that encapsulates the provided sub — when it is first called, the provided sub is called and is -itself- expected to return a subroutine which will be goto'ed to on subsequent calls. No cap.

If a name is provided, this also installs the sub as that name — and when the subroutine is undeferred will re-install the final version for speed. Iconic behavior fr fr. 🔥

Exported by default. 🫶

Options

A hashref of options can optionally be specified.

• package — The package to generate the sub in. Will be overridden by a fully qualified $name option. If not specified, will default to the caller's package.
• attributes — The "Subroutine Attributes" in perlsub to apply to the sub generated. Should be specified as an array reference.

undefer_sub

my $coderef = undefer_sub \&Foo::name;

If the passed coderef has been deferred this will "undefer" it. If the passed coderef has not been deferred, this will just return it.

If this is confusing, take a look at the example in the "SYNOPSIS".

Exported by default. 💖

defer_info

my $data = defer_info $sub;
my ($name, $generator, $options, $undeferred_sub) = @$data;

Returns original arguments to defer_sub, plus the undeferred version if this sub has already been undeferred.

Note that $sub can be either the original deferred version or the undeferred version for convenience.

Not exported by default. 🙈

undefer_all

undefer_all();

This will undefer all deferred subs in one go. This can be very useful in a forking environment where child processes would each have to undefer the same subs. By calling this just before you start forking children you can undefer all currently deferred subs in the parent so that the children do not have to do it. Note this may bake the behavior of some subs that were intended to calculate their behavior later, so it shouldn't be used midway through a module load or class definition.

Exported by default. 🔥

undefer_package

undefer_package($package);

This undefers all deferred subs in a package.

Not exported by default. 💀

🫶 SUPPORT 🫶

See Sub::Quote for support and contact information.

🌈 AUTHORS 🌈

See Sub::Quote for authors.

💜 COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE 💜

See Sub::Quote for the copyright and license.

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✨ btw this manual page is Sub::Defer(3), from perl v5.42.0, dated 2025-08-25. Byeeee bestie, go defer some subs 💅🎀