my @array = (1,2,3); $_ *= 2 for @array; print "@array\n"; # prints: 2 4 6 #### $_ *= 2 for 1,2,3; # error: modification of read-only value #### my @array = (1,2,3); for my $e (map $_, @array) { $e++; # or whatever } print "@array\n";