my $state = ( 'b == a', 'b < a', 'b > a', )[$a <=> $b]; #### print ( 'b == a', 'b < a', 'b > a', )[$a <=> $b], "\n"; #### print [ 'b == a', 'b < a', 'b > a', ]->[$a <=> $b], "\n"; #### print (( 'b == a', 'b < a', 'b > a', )[$a <=> $b], "\n"); #### my $status = { 'key 1' => 'value 1', 'key 2' => 'value 2', 'key 3' => 'value 3', }->{ $key };