foreach $field (@fields){
       ${$field}  = $q->param($field);
       ${$field}  = filter(${$field});
       $record   .= "\::${$field}";
[download]

I'm surprised none of the previous posters mentioned that this is a use of symbolic references, and horks under 'use strict.' You are "use strict'-ing, aren't you? I agree with what anithri said here: use a hash instead. Oh, and use strict, too. -w couldn't hurt, either.

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There are 10 kinds of people -- those that understand binary, and those that don't.