my $thing = UnPack (1, $stringpack);

##</code><code>##

use strict;
use warnings;

my @single = (1);
my @many   = (1 .. 3);

for my $ref (\@single, \@many) {
    my $count    = listy(@$ref);
    my @elements = listy(@$ref);
    my ($firstElement) = listy(@$ref);

    print "Count $count, first: $firstElement, elements: @elements\n";
}


sub listy {
    return @_;
}

##</code><code>##

Count 1, first: 1, elements: 1
Count 3, first: 1, elements: 1 2 3

##</code><code>##

my ($thing) = UnPack (1, $stringpack);