Here is one way - say you want to replace 'baz' with 'qux': 
use strict;

my @array = qw(foo bar bazzle baz);

@array = map { s/^baz$/qux/;$_ } @array;

[download]
This will replace all occurances of 'baz' in the array however. You didn't specify if this is okay or not.

UPDATE: oops - yet another problem to not solve with map. Thanks for the tip grantm and Anony. :)

So ... let's say that you only wanted to replace the first occurrance of 'baz': 
my @array = qw(foo bazzle baz baz);

for (@array) {
   last if s/^baz$/qux/;
}

[download]
much better, just don't try this with a list: 
for (qw(foo bazzle baz baz)) {
   last if s/^baz$/qux/;
}

[download]
which will not work, because you are trying to modify read-only values.

jeffa

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B--
H---H---H---H---H---H---
(the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)

In reply to (jeffa) Re: updating an array of strings by jeffa
in thread updating an array of strings by kirk123

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