PHP's null coalescing operator:

firstWorking() ?? getItFromTheCache() ?? getItFromTheDataBase() ?? getItFromAnExternalApi() ?? computeItTheSlowWay() ?? defaultValue;

Perl OR short-circuit:

firstWorking() or getItFromTheCache() or getItFromTheDataBase() or getItFromAnExternalApi() or computeItTheSlowWay() or defaultValue;