$a = 'one'; $b = 'two'; @d = ( $a, $b, \$b );; #### use Storable qw[ freeze thaw ];; $x = freeze \@d;; $y = thaw $x;; pp $y;; ["one", "two", \"two"] ${ $y->[2] } = 'three';; pp $y;; ["one", "two", \"three"] #### use Clone qw[ clone ];; $x = clone \@d;; pp $x;; ["one", "two", \"two"] ${ $x->[2] } = 'three';; pp $x;; ["one", "two", \"three"]