The | A general answer to the question "How can I get X?" from a complex data structure is to start from the top level and work downwards. The process may be a bit tedious, but will usually bear fruit.

Consider: 

c:\@Work\Perl\monks>perl -wMstrict -MData::Dump -e
"my ($a, $b, $c, $d) = ('a' .. 'd');
 ;;
 my %obiekt;
 ;;
 push @{$obiekt{$a}{$b}}, [$c,$d];
 dd \%obiekt;
 print qq{\n};
 ;;
 dd $obiekt{$a};
 print qq{$obiekt{$a} \n\n};
 ;;
 dd $obiekt{$a}{$b};
 print qq{$obiekt{$a}{$b} \n\n};
 ;;
 dd $obiekt{$a}{$b}[0];
 print qq{$obiekt{$a}{$b}[0] \n\n};
 ;;
 print qq{>$obiekt{$a}{$b}[0][0]< >$obiekt{$a}{$b}[0][1]<};
"
{ a => { b => [["c", "d"]] } }

{ b => [["c", "d"]] }
HASH(0x216fa0)

[["c", "d"]]
ARRAY(0x216fdc)

["c", "d"]
ARRAY(0x21700c)

>c< >d<

[download]
The top level
    dd \%obiekt;
yields
    { a => { b => [["c", "d"]] } }
which may be a bit confusing in and of itself.

Going down a level to
    dd $obiekt{$a};
    print qq{$obiekt{$a} \n\n};
yields
    { b => [["c", "d"]] }
    HASH(0x216fa0)
and tells you that the value of the  $obiekt{$a} key of the hash is yet another hash reference. print-ing this reference simply stringizes the reference into a standard format that tells you that a reference is present and the type of the reference; it's not useful for much else.

Another level down, and
    dd $obiekt{$a}{$b};
    print qq{$obiekt{$a}{$b} \n\n};
produces
    [["c", "d"]]
    ARRAY(0x216fdc)
which tells you that you now have a reference to an array containing a single item: another array reference.

Yet another level down, and
    dd $obiekt{$a}{$b}[0];
    print qq{$obiekt{$a}{$b}[0] \n\n};
outputs
    ["c", "d"]
    ARRAY(0x21700c)
which is the value of the lowest level array reference.

Finally,
    print qq{>$obiekt{$a}{$b}[0][0]< >$obiekt{$a}{$b}[0][1]<};
accesses the content of the lowest level array reference and gives you
    >c< >d<

Standard Disclaimer Concerning $a And $b Special Variables:   These variable names are used for Perl special package variables (see General Variables section of perlvar) that are associated with the sort built-in and its ilk. These names should generally be avoided in your code, even brief example code such as in the OP, and especially when used as the name of a lexical. Severe foot distress may result otherwise.

Give a man a fish:  <%-{-{-{-<

In reply to Re: references, dreferences by AnomalousMonk
in thread references, dreferences by michal_p

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