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An array is a list of ordered items, useful when the ordering is important (usually).

A hash is a set of key/value pairs of unordered items, useful when you want to quickly get from a key to its corresponding value no matter how large the data set might get.

Or, in short: hashes are for mapping, arrays are for ordering.

-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker

The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119.

In reply to Re: Difference between array and a hash? (Newbie concerns) by merlyn
in thread Difference between array and a hash? (Newbie concerns) by reztlaf

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