# Here, changes in @SeparateArray will be "seen" in # $MyAoA[$i] too $MyAoA[$i] = \@SeparateArray; pop @SeparateArray; # $MyAoA[$i] affected, too # Here, $MyAoA[$i] and @SeparateArray are somewhat # independent, even if they may share common elements $MyAoA[$i] = [ @SeparateArray ]; pop @SeparateArray; # no change to $MyAoA[$i]