A for loop and a foreach loop are slightly different. Adding to the confusion is that for and foreach are synonyms for each other (no pun intended). 
for my $y ( @a ) {...}

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makes $y an alias for one element of @a each time through the loop. Writing 
foreach my $y ( @a ) {...}

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is identical, but 4 chars longer to type.

On the other hand, 

foreach ( $x=0; $x < $#a; $x++ ) {my $y=$a[$x];...}

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would behave similarly, except $y is not an alias for elements of @a, but a copy. And using 
for ( $x=0; $x < $#a; $x++ ) {my $y=$a[$x];...}

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would not change the behavior here either.

Which form the compiler chooses is based on the argument list to for/foreach, and not the name itself!

I hope that helps :|

Update: I wish I'd have said it more like hv did below. Maybe he'll volunteer to edit for me in the future ;)

A for loop and a foreach loop are slightly different.
I attempted (but failed) to say that the OP seemed to understand them as different entities. The only difference is what follows the keyword, and not the keyword itself.

-QM
--
Quantum Mechanics: The dreams stuff is made of

In reply to Re^3: Closures & aliases by QM
in thread Closures & aliases by BrowserUk

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