---
name: "Perl::Critic::Policy::TestingAndDebugging::RequireUseStrict"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-perl-critic"
version: "1.156-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Perl::Critic::Policy::TestingAndDebugging::RequireUseStrict"
---

# Perl::Critic::Policy::TestingAndDebugging::RequireUseStrict(3pm)

Always "use strict".

## NAME

Perl::Critic::Policy::TestingAndDebugging::RequireUseStrict - Always "use strict".

## AFFILIATION

This Policy is part of the core Perl::Critic distribution.

## DESCRIPTION

Using strictures is probably the single most effective way to improve the quality of your code.  This policy requires that the `'use` `strict'` statement must come before any other statements except `"package"`, `"require"`, and other `"use"` statements.  Thus, all the code in the entire package will be affected.

There are special exemptions for Moose, Moose::Role, and Moose::Util::TypeConstraints because they enforces strictness; e.g.  `'use Moose'` is treated as equivalent to `'use strict'`.

The maximum number of violations per document for this policy defaults to 1.

## CONFIGURATION

If you make use of things like Moose::Exporter, you can create your own modules that import the strict pragma into the code that is `"use"`ing them.  There is an option to add to the default set of pragmata and modules in your *.perlcriticrc*: `"equivalent_modules"`.

```
    [TestingAndDebugging::RequireUseStrict]
    equivalent_modules = MooseX::My::Sugar
```

## SEE ALSO

Perl::Critic::Policy::TestingAndDebugging::ProhibitNoStrict

## AUTHOR

Jeffrey Ryan Thalhammer \<jeff@imaginative-software.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2005-2011 Imaginative Software Systems.  All rights reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.  The full text of this license can be found in the LICENSE file included with this module