@array=("key1","value1","key2","value2"); #an array filled with key value pairs %hash1=("key1"=>"value1","key2"=>"value2"); #one way to initialize a hash (key=>value,key2=>value2,..) %hash2=@array; #making %hash2 out of a collection of key value pairs in an array $hash3{"key1"}="value1"; #creates key of "key1" and value of "value1" $hash3{"key2"}="value2";