my $parts = [ 'Part1', 'Part2','Part3' ]; my $newLoop; for (@$parts) { my $hash = { PARTNAME => $_ }; $hash->{SELECTED}++ if $_ eq $row->{title}; push @$newLoop, $hash; } # ---- my $parts = [ 'Part1', 'Part2','Part3' ]; my $newLoop = [ map {{ PARTNAME => $_, $_ eq $row->{title} ? (SELECTED => 1) : () }} @$parts ];