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input_line_number HANDLE EXPR
$INPUT_LINE_NUMBER
$NR
$.

The current input line number for the last file handle from which you read (or performed a seek or tell on). An explicit close on a filehandle resets the line number. Because "<>" never does an explicit close, line numbers increase across ARGV files (but see examples under eof()). Localizing $. has the effect of also localizing Perl's notion of "the last read filehandle". (Mnemonic: many programs use "." to mean the current line number.)