$hash{$id} = [1,2,3]; # [ ... ] creates an anonymous array ref @temp = (1,2,3); $hash{$id} = \@temp; # \ makes an explicit reference to @temp #### $x = ${$hash{$id}}[0]; # or $x = $hash{$id}[0]; # or $x = $hash{$id}->[0]; #### my @values = @{$hash{$id}};