Maybe the hash could be a perl hash: 
%database_index;
# Run me once
my $idx=0;
for (@database) {
    $database_index{$_} = $idx++;
}
# /Run me once
# good candidate for a BEGIN block - caveat dynamic
# This is pretty standard and not best for all situations

[download]

Now $database_index{'query'} gives you what you want. This must be run again if the database changes, so it's awkward for dynamic situations.

After Compline
Zaxo

In reply to Re: Idiomatic Array Index Search? by Zaxo
in thread Idiomatic Array Index Search? by footpad

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