# Using a hash my %animals = ( cat => [1,2,3], dog => [5,6], pig => [4,3,2,1], ); for my $animal_type (keys %animals) { my @values = @{$animals{$animal_type}}; # Animals will come in an unpredictable order, but as an example: # First iteration, dog will be handled. # Second iteration, pig will be handled. # Third iteration, cat will be handled. }