my $sth = { NAME_uc => [ 1 .. 2 ] }; print join "\n" , $sth->{NAME_uc}[0 ,1 ]; __END__ 2 #### my $sth = { NAME_uc => [ 1 .. 2 ] }; print join "\n" , @$sth->{NAME_uc}[0 ,1 ]; __END__ Not an ARRAY reference at - line 3. #### my $sth = { NAME_uc => [ 1 .. 2 ] }; print join "\n" , @{ $sth->{NAME_uc} } [0 ,1 ]; __END__ 1 2 #### my $sth = { NAME_uc => [ 1 .. 2 ] }; print join "\n" , @{ $$sth{NAME_uc} } ,'' __END__ 1 2