perlref: Symbolic references

Why it's stupid to `use a variable as a variable name'

There are a few really good reasons for using symbolic references. Those reasons are usually carefully tested and encapsulated in modules that isolate users from as much of the danger as possible. It's highly unlikely that you have come up with a situation that could not be better handled through a more robust means. So perlref will show you how to create and use them. Now forget that you know how. ;)