the $fh variable is a glob reference... something like *Symbol::GEN0.

${*$fh} dereferences the glob to access a slot in the symbol table (which is what a glob is).

Assigning a scalar value (the right side of the expression) to a slot in the symbol table puts it in the SCALAR slot.

See also when I asked this question: symbol/glob hash explanation

In reply to Re: Obscure ${foo} reference by rwstauner
in thread Obscure ${foo} reference by fbicknel

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