use strict;
my %hash = ( 1 => \$1, 2 => \$2 );
my $hash = 1;
"aa bb cc" =~ /(aa)/ and print ${ $hash{$hash} },$/;
__END__
aa
[download]

Your solution is poor - much better is to assign the matches to an array.

Well it depends on what do you do. If you have code like this:

if (/regexp/) {
 no strict 'refs';
 my $i = 1;
 while (defined ${$i}) {
   ...
 }
}
[download]

then it's definitely better (and fairly easy) to change the code and assign the matches into an array. If you have something like:

$text =~ s{regexp}{
 no strict 'refs';
 my $i = 1;
 while (defined ${$i}) {
   ...
 }
 ...
}ge;
[download]

it ain't that trivial.

Jenda
Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live.
   -- Rick Osborne

Edit by castaway: Closed small tag in signature

Show me an example of the second and I'll show you how to rewrite it. The second sounds like someone trying to be too clever.

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

Then there are Damian modules.... *sigh* ... that's not about being less-lazy -- that's about being on some really good drugs -- you know, there is no spoon. - flyingmoose

I shouldn't have to say this, but any code, unless otherwise stated, is untested