Re^5: Having trouble reading in a hash from a referenced array

I think of an @array as just syntactic sugar for an $a_ref = \@array.

They are not two different data types, just two sides of the same coin.

Without @sigil and %sigil many context mechanics wouldn't work.

Edit

Concerning repeated arrows ...

Perl is very special among other scripting languages in requiring explicit dereferencing. (this might be a C thing, I'm not sure)

How would you explain to someone coming from JS, Python or Ruby that he not only needs one -> but a bunch full for every level?

Cheers Rolf
_{(addicted to the Perl Programming Language :)

Wikisyntax for the Monastery}

Comment on Re^5: Having trouble reading in a hash from a referenced array Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^6: Having trouble reading in a hash from a referenced array by LanX (Saint) on Dec 19, 2020 at 01:41 UTC
> They are not two different data types, OK, before someone starts complaining: Yes Perl has an internal type for scalars holding references, so $a_ref would be of that type. But that's not what I meant. Every @array has already a ref-address for the internal memory location, even before you try assigning it explicitly to a $scalar `DB<8> use Devel::Peek DB<9> @x=(1) DB<10> Dump @x SV = PVAV(0x31c26e0) at 0x31dbe08 <---- REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = () ARRAY = 0x31ff138 FILL = 0 MAX = 3 ARYLEN = 0x0 FLAGS = (REAL) Elt No. 0 SV = IV(0x31dba20) at 0x31dba30 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK) IV = 1 DB<11> p \@x ARRAY(0x31dbe08) <---- DB<12>` [download] Cheers Rolf _{(addicted to the Perl Programming Language :) Wikisyntax for the Monastery}	[reply] [d/l]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.

Re^6: Having trouble reading in a hash from a referenced array
by LanX (Saint) on Dec 19, 2020 at 01:41 UTC

> They are not two different data types,

OK, before someone starts complaining:

Yes Perl has an internal type for scalars holding references, so $a_ref would be of that type. But that's not what I meant.

Every @array has already a ref-address for the internal memory location, even before you try assigning it explicitly to a $scalar

  DB<8> use Devel::Peek

  DB<9> @x=(1)

  DB<10> Dump @x
SV = PVAV(0x31c26e0) at 0x31dbe08      <----
  REFCNT = 1
  FLAGS = ()
  ARRAY = 0x31ff138
  FILL = 0
  MAX = 3
  ARYLEN = 0x0
  FLAGS = (REAL)
  Elt No. 0
  SV = IV(0x31dba20) at 0x31dba30
    REFCNT = 1
    FLAGS = (IOK,pIOK)
    IV = 1

  DB<11> p \@x
ARRAY(0x31dbe08)                         <----
  DB<12>
[download]

Cheers Rolf
_{(addicted to the Perl Programming Language :)

Wikisyntax for the Monastery}

[reply]
[d/l]