It's a symbolic reference because you're doing: hash_ref->{key}, which is like "hash_ref"->{key}, which is ending up being $hash_ref{key}, but in a round-about way.

Perhaps you meant $hash_ref->{key}.

japhy -- Perl and Regex Hacker

In reply to Re: Why is this a symbolic reference? by japhy
in thread Why is this a symbolic reference? by Anonymous Monk

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