$x: SV = IV(0x9a32ac0) at 0x9a1775c REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 10 $main::y: SV = IV(0x9a32ac0) at 0x9a1775c REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 10 In block with local $x $x: SV = IV(0x9a32ac0) at 0x9a1775c REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 20 $main::x (just to note that $x and $main::x are the same thing): SV = IV(0x9a32ac0) at 0x9a1775c REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 20 $main::y: SV = IV(0x9a32ac0) at 0x9a1775c REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 20 After exiting the block with local $x $x: SV = IV(0x9a32ac0) at 0x9a1775c REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 10 $main::y: SV = IV(0x9a32ac0) at 0x9a1775c REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 10