What are good alternatives to return values (wantarray), and how do they compare?

In Perl, functions can return different types of values depending on the context. The `wantarray` function allows us to determine if the caller is expecting a list or a scalar. However, there are good alternatives to using `wantarray` for handling return values in Perl. Below are some strategies with their pros and cons:

1. Hash References

Instead of returning multiple values, you can return a hash reference. This allows you to pass a complex data structure.

2. Array References

Similar to hash references, returning an array reference can be beneficial when you want to return a list of items without worrying about `wantarray`.

3. Exception Handling

Using `eval` and exceptions can sometimes be a simpler approach to control the flow and manage the return values.

4. Object-Oriented Approach

By using object-oriented programming, you can encapsulate data and provide methods to access the necessary data instead of returning values directly.

Comparison

- Hash/Array References: Easy to manage, but can add complexity in certain situations.
- Exception Handling: May obscure the normal flow, but powerful for error management.
- Object-Oriented: Helps organize code, but requires a more sophisticated structure.