---
name: "Perl::Critic::Policy::ValuesAndExpressions::ProhibitEmptyQuotes"
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::ValuesAndExpressions::ProhibitEmptyQuotes"
---

# Perl::Critic::Policy::ValuesAndExpressions::ProhibitEmptyQuotes(3pm)

Write "q{}" instead of "''".

## NAME

Perl::Critic::Policy::ValuesAndExpressions::ProhibitEmptyQuotes - Write "q{}" instead of "''".

## AFFILIATION

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

## DESCRIPTION

Don't use quotes for an empty string or any string that is pure whitespace.  Instead, use `"q{}"` to improve legibility.  Better still, created named values like this.  Use the `"x"` operator to repeat characters.

```
    $message = '';      #not ok
    $message = "";      #not ok
    $message = "     "; #not ok
    $message = q{};     #better
    $message = q{     } #better
    $EMPTY = q{};
    $message = $EMPTY;      #best
    $SPACE = q{ };
    $message = $SPACE x 5;  #best
```

## CONFIGURATION

This Policy is not configurable except for the standard options.

## SEE ALSO

Perl::Critic::Policy::ValuesAndExpressions::ProhibitNoisyStrings

## 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.