sub change { my $arr = shift; $_++ for @$arr; } my $x = 1; my $y = 2; change([ $x, $y ]); print "($x) ($y)\n"; #### sub change { my $arr = shift; $$_++ for @$arr; } my $x = 1; my $y = 2; change([ \$x, \$y ]); print "($x) ($y)\n";