use Devel::Peek; my $x = 42; my $y = \$x; Dump $y; __END__ SV = RV(0x63fde0) at 0x604fc0 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (PADBUSY,PADMY,ROK) RV = 0x604fa0 <--- SV = IV(0x62de60) at 0x604fa0 REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (PADBUSY,PADMY,IOK,pIOK) IV = 42