Normal: $array = [ { 'A' => 'B', 'C' => 'D', 'E' => 'F' }, 'foo', $array->[0] ]; Deepcopy: $array = [ { 'A' => 'B', 'C' => 'D', 'E' => 'F' }, 'foo', { 'A' => 'B', 'C' => 'D', 'E' => 'F' } ]; Purity: $array = [ { 'A' => 'B', 'C' => 'D', 'E' => 'F' }, 'foo', {} ]; $array->[2] = $array->[0]; Terse: [ { 'A' => 'B', 'C' => 'D', 'E' => 'F' }, 'foo', $array->[0] ]