I have a perl TCP server,

Ok. I would take that to mean that that you have implemented a server using TCP/IP. You have used Perl as an implementation language at the server end. That is fine.

The server gets a "key" and then replies back with a "value".

I have no idea of what the server should send based upon what the client sent - that's a server spec.

The client requests (sends a question) and expects complex data from the server (gets an answer). The client is expected to be able to understand the response from the server to its question.

Or should I use multi process or threads? Whoa! A client server is already at least multi-process or multi-thread.

Sounds like you not have a working TCP/IP server.
Explain more what you are trying to do and I'm sure you will get help.

In reply to Re: How to transmit complex data to client? by Marshall
in thread How to transmit complex data to client? by mattdeans

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