As best I understand it, because in Perl 6, arrays always use the '@' sigil.

So elements of @x are accessed using @x[1]

And elements of the array pointed at by $x can be accessed using $x[1].

The abiguity that is confusing you is because Perl 5 used $x[1] to access elements of array @x.

@x = ( 1, 2, 3);;
print @x[1];;
Scalar value @x[1] better written as $x[1] at
2
[download]

The explanation for that was that the use of the '$' signified that the element accessed was a scalar. But elements of arrays are always scalars, which makes the purpose of changing the sigil redundant. So in Perl 6 you don't.

In the same way, if it hasn't changed since I last looked, hash elements are addressed using %x{'foo'} (or %x<foo>) and not $x{'foo'} as now.

OK, thanks. I think I get it now.

I've come to really love the way Perl identifies what you should expect to get out of the variable. It speaks to me on a "this is what I like about Perl" way. Now the emphasis seems to be on the container, not the contents which is a complete reversal. Some how that just seems like a really wrong thing to do with the language (is it even Perl anymore?). Maybe that's just a result of familiarity and I'd see it from the other side if Perl had always done it this way (shrug).

is it even Perl anymore?

Yes. Write some, and I suspect you'll find that Perl 6 feels very Perlish.

Maybe that's just a result of familiarity and I'd see it from the other side if Perl had always done it this way...

That's my guess.

Hey, wait a minute.

If changing the sigil is considered redundant, then isn't leaving the '@' on it even more redundant? The array is already clearly identified by the [ ] no?

(same comment to hashes)

Well no. Then there would be no way to differentiate @x[1] and $x[1].

Indeed, without the sigils it wouldn't be possible to have a scalar x and an array x and a hash x unless you also had to use the brackets and braces when referring to the container: x[] and x{}.

But then how would you do an empty slice: @x[]?

---

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

It takes a while to get used to, but sigils are invariant in Perl 6.