my @list_one=( 'parameter real name = 0.1', 'parameter real name1 = 0.2', 'parameter real name2 = 0.3' ); #### my @list_two=( 'parameter real name = 0.01', 'parameter real name2 = 2.2', 'parameter real name3 = 3.3' ); #### my $index=0; my %list_two_remaining=(); foreach my $list_two_element (@list_two) { $list_two_element=~m/.*parameter\s+real\s+(\w+).*/; my $list_two_name=$1; foreach my $list_one_element (@list_one) { $list_one_element=~m/.*parameter\s+real\s+(\w+).*/; my $list_two_name=$1; if ($list_one_element ne $list_two_element) { $list_two_remaining{$list_two_element}++; } } } my @list_two=keys(%list_two_remaining);