if ($query eq $hash{'query'}){ push @{$hash{$query}},{'domain' => $domain ,'count' => $count}; $tot_count += $count; } else{ my $qid = $hash{'query'}; .... some operations %hash=(); $hash{'query'}= $query; push @{$hash{$query}},{'domain' => $domain ,'count' => $count}; $tot_count = $count; }