One key point ... and you may as well clarify it now, not later ... is that the data-structure you are using here is an array, not a hash.

In some languages (PHP, say ...), there is no difference between the two:   what Perl calls a hash, PHP actually calls an array.   Perl draws a sharp distinction between the two, and does not confuse its nomenclature.

In Perl, arrays (and lists) are ordered collections, referenced by numeric index (≥ 0).   A hash is an unordered collection referenced by a string key.   Both are one-dimensional, although “references” can be used to mimic multi-dimensional structures.

_{(slight hand-waving intended in the previous description of things.)}