edit

  DB<102> @data1 = ( "a 1 a", "a 2 T", "a 3 C" );
 => ("a 1 a", "a 2 T", "a 3 C")

  DB<103> @data2 = ( "a 2 Y", "a 3 R", "a 4 Q", "b 5 R" );
 => ("a 2 Y", "a 3 R", "a 4 Q", "b 5 R")

  DB<104> $regex = join "|" , map {/^(\w\s+\d)/} @data1
 => "a 1|a 2|a 3"

  DB<105> grep { /^($regex)/ } @data2
 => ("a 2 Y", "a 3 R")
[download]

think I spotted (and corrected) a bug in your logic, you forgot to anchor to string start '^' in your grep regex.

I wondered about building a hash for this. What would be the best way? Are you thinking something like this is better:

my %data_hash = map { /(\w\s+\d)/ => $_ } @data2;

for my $key ( %data_hash ) {
    print "$data_hash{$key}\n" if grep { /^$key/ } @data1;
}
[download]

I also wondered about anchoring that match. In earlier versions, I did anchor it. But, I wasn't sure if it was necessary given the data set. I think I'll add it back as it's probably safer.

Thanks for the advice!

well kind of ... but your code only works if the first 2 chars combinations are unique otherwise you need to push into a HoA.

I think the or-ed regex I've shown you is better, as long as @data1 is known from the beginning and doesn't change dynamically.

Cheers Rolf

( addicted to the Perl Programming Language)