DBIx::Simple module aims to be a simplified object oriented interface to Perl DBI. From its description ... Query preparation and execution are combined in a single method, the result object (which is a wrapper around the statement handle) provides easy row-by-row and slurping methods. The "query" method returns either a result object, or a dummy object. The dummy object returns undef (or an empty list) for all methods and when used in boolean context, is false. The dummy object lets you postpone (or skip) error checking, but it also makes immediate error check simply " $db->query(...) or die $db->error".