#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;

my %hash;
$hash{anything} =1;

my $hash_result = %hash;

print "scalar value of a this hash = $hash_result\n";

__END__
PRINTS:
scalar value of a this hash = 1/8

# scalar values of a hash is a string, like "1/8"

# Means that 1 of 8 hash buckets is currently in use.
# A Perl hash always starts with 8 hash buckets.
#
# Perl will double the number of hash buckets as it
# sees fit. You have no control over that decision.
#
# Current versions of Perl have some randomization of
# the keys -- a run with the exact same data may
# result in a difference in # of keys used or total keys.

# Of course the code above will always result in "1/8".