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Perl is a dynamic, high-level, interpreted programming language known for its powerful text manipulation capabilities. Originally created by Larry Wall in 1987, it was designed to make report processing easier, a task at which it still excels. Its versatile design led to the nickname "the Swiss Army chainsaw of scripting languages".

Key features

Syntax: Perl's syntax borrows elements from other languages like C, sh, sed, and awk. It uses leading characters called "sigils" to denote the type of variables, with $ for scalars, @ for arrays, and % for hashes.

Regular expressions (regex): Perl is celebrated for its highly optimized and extensive regular expression engine, which provides robust and efficient string parsing, searching, and manipulation.

Multi-paradigm: Programmers can use Perl in a procedural, object-oriented (OO), or functional style, offering flexibility for different projects.

Open-source: Perl is free and open-source, licensed under the Artistic License or the GNU General Public License (GPL).

Cross-platform: It is a highly portable language that can run on a wide variety of operating systems, including Unix, Windows, and macOS.

CPAN: The Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN) is a massive repository of free, reusable Perl modules that extend the language's functionality for tasks like database integration, graphics, and network communication.

"There's more than one way to do it" (TMTOWTDI): A core philosophy of Perl, this motto reflects the language's flexibility and support for multiple coding approaches.