The "ARRAY" references can be dereferenced via @{ $ref }.
The "HASH" references can be dereferenced via %{ $ref }.
The "REF" references can be dereferenced via ${ $ref }.

Silly or not, but a self-circular reference can be followed ad infinitum; you never arrive at plain "SCALAR" value.

In reply to Re^2: Why do I (sometimes) get a REF ref and not a SCALAR ref? by Anonymous Monk
in thread Why do I (sometimes) get a REF ref and not a SCALAR ref? by Anonymous Monk

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