To clarify: If the array element $data[$x] contains a valid reference to a hash, then you need dereference that using -> to indicate that this is the case.

No, you don't need to do so.

my %h = ( foo => 'bar' );
my @a = ( \%h );
print "worked fine\n" if $a[0]{foo} eq 'bar';
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You need to use the arrow when you are dealing directly with a scalar containing a reference rather than a nested one.

my %h = ( foo => 'bar' ); 
my @a = ( \%h ); 
my $r = \@a; 
print $r->[0]{foo}, "\n"; # $r[0] won't work since @r doesn't exist.
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-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";