$sql_statement = qq|select tbl_names.str_name from tbl_ipaddresses, tbl_names where tbl_ipaddresses.str_ipaddress = '201.2.23.2' and tbl_names.id_name = tbl_ipaddresses.id_name|; $sth = $dbh->prepare($sql_statement); $rv = $sth->execute; while ( ($str_name) = $sth->fetchrow_array ){ # do whatever }