Identify empty string in Perl -

there easy solution this, can't figure out. looking to:

• take csv file array
• loop through array , split fields variables
• if array field empty set variable "n/a"

note: setting $variable "n/a" cannot working.

for example:

foreach $var (@list) {  ($name,$date,$size, etc...)=split(/,\"/,$var);  } 

how set $date "n/a" if field in array empty?

so produce:

$name = jim $date = n/a $size = small 

i hope makes sense , easy fix. -thanks

assuming variable $date undefined when "empty":

if (!defined($date)) {   $date = 'n/a'; } 

or more concisely:

$date //= 'n/a'; 

or if empty string, i.e. $date = ''; (this work in case $date undefined, don't want use if only want identify case undefined):

if ($date eq '') {   $date = 'n/a'; } 

or more concisely (note set $date n/a if $date '0' due perl's weak typing):

$date ||= 'n/a';