( # open paren to force list context map # will be followed by BLOCK and LIST # Here's the BLOCK: { ord > 0130 ? uc : (), uc } # so this must somehow be acting as a LIST q{KnKttiIMRsROhOppllrr y ssLfL cWEdEaauujj} =~ /./g # Finally, close paren and index into the list )[$first*16+$second*4+$third]