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When working with files in Perl, its often safer and more convenient to use a higher level module like Path::Tiny.

To do file io using core Perl use the open() and close() functions.
Another common solution which is simpler, less quirky, and object oriented is to use Path::Tiny.

Creating Path::Tiny objects

use Path::Tiny;

my $dir  = path("/tmp");
my $file = path("foo.txt");

Navigating the filesystem

my $subdir = $dir->child("foo");
my $file   = $subdir->child("bar.txt");

# Reading directories

for ( $dir->children ) { ... }

my $iter = $dir->iterator;
while ( my $next = $iter->() ) { ... }

Reading files

my $file = path("./foo.txt");

# Read the entire file into a string
my $contents = $file->slurp; 
my $contents = $file->slurp_utf8;

# Each line of the file is an item in the array
my @lines = $file->lines; 
my @lines = $file->lines_utf8;

my ($head) = $file->lines( {count => 1} );
my ($tail) = $file->lines( {count => -1} );

Writing files

my $file = path("./foo.txt");
$file->spew( @data );
$file->spew_utf8( @data );

Stringifies as cleaned up path

my $foo_file = path("./foo.txt");
print $foo_file; # "foo.txt"

For more info

Thats just an introduction. There is more. See the documentation for details.