There's nothing special about $_ per say. 
for (@names) {
   # Use $_ here
}

[download]

is simply the same as 

for $_ (@names) {
   # Use $_ here
}

[download]

You can use a different variable if you want 

for my $name (@names) {
   # Use $name here
}

[download]

In reply to Re: On patterns and more by ikegami
in thread On patterns and more by Sary

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