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