my $r_array = [1,2,3]; # make an array and put a reference to it in $r_array. - note square brackets


my @array = (1,2,3); #make an array called @array - note normal brackets
$r_array = \@array;  #then put a reference to @array in $r_array


sub foo {return [1,2,3]) #this sub returns a reference to an array
$r_array = foo();  #you could call it like this


##</code><code>##

use Data::Dumper; print Dumper($r_array1, $r_array2);

which prints out
$VAR1 = [
          [
            1,
            2,
            3,
            4,
            5
          ]
        ];
$VAR2 = [
          [
            6,
            7,
            8,
            9,
            10
          ]
        ];