---
orphan: true
---

```{index} single: pperl
```
```{index} single: PetaPerl
```

# Glossary

Terms, acronyms, and project-specific vocabulary.

```{glossary}
pperl
  The PetaPerl runtime — a Rust reimplementation of Perl 5, binary
  name `pperl`. Reads the same Perl source code the stock `perl`
  interpreter does; ships a p5 runtime (the faithful reimplementation)
  as default and a pp runtime (native Rust interpreter) under `--pp`.

p5 runtime
  The default pperl runtime. Behavioural mirror of `perl5`: semantics,
  edge cases, magic. Where a test disagrees with upstream perl5, p5
  is the one that's wrong.

pp runtime
  The alternative pperl runtime, selected by `--pp`. Implemented from
  scratch in Rust with a simpler op dispatch. Faster on some
  workloads; not yet feature-complete against perl5.

SV
  Scalar Value. A Perl scalar as represented in pperl's runtime —
  the enum lives in `src/runtime/sv.rs` and mirrors `perl5`'s SV
  layout where the semantics depend on it.

JIT
  Just-In-Time compilation. pperl compiles hot loops to machine code
  via Cranelift; triggered automatically on eligible `for`/`while`
  bodies.

named unary operator
  A Perl built-in that takes **exactly one argument** at a specific
  precedence level — tighter than comparison operators, looser than
  the arithmetic and shift operators. Unlike a **list operator**
  (which greedily slurps the rest of the expression), a named unary
  takes its one argument and stops there. Examples: `defined`,
  `exists`, `ref`, `scalar`, `length`, `uc`/`lc`, `chr`/`ord`, `int`,
  `abs`, `sqrt`, `sin`/`cos`, `log`, `exp`, `-e`/`-r`/`-f`/… file
  tests. See `perlop` precedence row 10.

list operator
  A Perl built-in that takes a **list of arguments** and, at the
  right-hand side of the operator, greedily consumes the rest of
  the expression. Examples: `print`, `sort`, `push`, `unshift`,
  `join`, `split`. Contrast with **named unary operator**.
```

This is an initial seed. Terms referenced by `{term}` roles elsewhere
in the docs should be added here when they appear.