$s = 123;
$s = 456;
print "$s\n";  # 456

$a[1] = 123;
$a[1] = 456;
print "$a[1]\n";  # 456

$h{foo} = 123;
$h{foo} = 456;
print "$h{foo}\n";  # 456
[download]

push @{ $h{$k} }, 123;
push @{ $h{$k} }, 456;
print "$_\n" for @{ $h{$k} };  # 123, 456
[download]

I was going to use a hash of arrays, but that will get messy real quick. So how would I use a while loop to connect to my database and populate each record of the hash? Here's my current code:

while (my $records = $query_handle->fetchrow_hashref) {
        my $new_name     = $records->{'ap_name'};
        my $location     = $records->{'building'};
        my $first_name   = $records->{'primary_name'};
        my $first_ip     = $records->{'primary_ip'};
        my $second_name  = $records->{'secondary_name'};
        my $second_ip    = $records->{'secondary_ip'};
        my $third_name   = $records->{'tertiary_name'};
        my $third_ip     = $records->{'tertiary_ip'};
        my $group        = $records->{'bldg_short'};
        my $five_channel = $records->{'five_channel'};
        my $configured   = $records->{'configured'};
        my $mac_name     = $records->{'mac_name'};

#Add each element as a hash to an Array of Hashes (AoH)
        my $new_hash = {
            new_name => $new_name,
            location => $location,
            first_name => $first_name,
            first_ip => $first_ip,
            second_name => $second_name,
            second_ip => $second_ip,
            third_name => $third_name,
            third_ip => $third_ip,
            group => $group,
            five_channel => $five_channel,
            configured => $configured,
            mac_name => $mac_name
        };
        push (@aps, $new_hash);
    }
[download]

Can I step through the array 'records' and enter unique records using a loop with $i? I don't know where to place the $i to make it work.

What's the key? Do you even need a hash? You haven't said what you're trying to do.

I am curious, when I look at your input, I see 11 comma separated fields. When I look at your hash record field names, I see 12. Where did 'ap_name' go to or rather where could it come from? There seems to be a field missing. Perhaps I am blind and/or am miscounting. Either thing could be! I am also curious as to why you wouldn't use the same $var name as the hash key, ie, instead of my $new_name = $records->{'ap_name'}; Why not my $ap_name = $records->{'ap_name'} ?