# pack

## Synopsis

```perl
my $bin = pack("A10", "hello");         # space-padded string
my $bin = pack("NnA*", $long, $short, $str);
my $bin = pack("(A2)*", @pairs);        # group repeat
```

## Description

Converts a list of values into a binary string according to a template.

Takes a TEMPLATE string and a LIST of values and packs them into a
binary string. The template is a sequence of format characters, each
optionally followed by a repeat count or `*` (consume all remaining).

Common format characters:

- `a`, `A`, `Z` – ASCII string (null-padded, space-padded, null-terminated)
- `c`, `C` – signed/unsigned char (8-bit)
- `s`, `S` – signed/unsigned short (16-bit native)
- `l`, `L` – signed/unsigned long (32-bit native)
- `q`, `Q` – signed/unsigned quad (64-bit native)
- `n`, `N` – unsigned short/long in network (big-endian) byte order
- `v`, `V` – unsigned short/long in VAX (little-endian) byte order
- `f`, `d` – single/double-precision float (native)
- `H`, `h` – hex string (high/low nybble first)
- `w` – BER compressed integer
- `U` – Unicode code point
- `x` – null byte padding
- `X` – back up one byte
- `@` – null-pad to absolute position
- `(...)N` – group with repeat count

Whitespace and `#`-comments in templates are ignored.

## See also

unpack, vec