sub get_x {
    my @x = qw( stuff );
    return wantarray ? @x : \@x;
}

##</code><code>##

    return wantarray ? @x : \@x;

##</code><code>##

    return wantarray ? @x : $x[0];

##</code><code>##

my $dewdrop_description = get_droplet();
$dewdrop_description->{substance}       = 'water';
$dewdrop_description->{molecular_array} = get_moles( 'water' );
$dewdrop_description->{temperature}     = 37;

##</code><code>##

my $dewdrop_description = {
    %{ get_droplet() },
    substance       => 'water',
    molecular_array => get_moles( 'water' ),
    temperature     => 37,
};

##</code><code>##

    return wantarray ? @moles : \@moles;

##</code><code>##

my ($scalar) = why();

##</code><code>##

sub get_or_set {
    my $self = shift;

    if ( ! @_ && ! defined wantarray ) {
        die "accessor called in void context";
    }
    $self->{stuff} = shift @_ if @_;

    return $self->{stuff};
}

##</code><code>##

my @x = ();        # but I thought it was qw( foo ) !
get_or_set( @x );  # set value