{ my $foo = 'X' x 100000000; getc; } undef $foo; my $foo = ""; getc; #### user 12310 2.1 4.8 211000 197024 pts/2 At the second prompt: user 12310 1.2 4.8 211000 197028 pts/2 #### $foo = 'X' x 100000000; getc; undef $foo; getc; $foo2 = 'X' x 100000000; getc; #### user 15185 18.0 4.8 211000 197020 pts/5 user 15185 5.0 2.4 113340 99364 pts/5 user 15185 4.3 7.2 308660 294684 pts/5