my @bar = qw(One Two Three);
my $foo = "bar";
my %quux = ("bar", \@bar);

print "***" . $foo . "***";

foreach my $baz (@{$quux{$foo}}) {

     print $baz . "\n\n";

}
[download]

Think about it this way - you are asking to access some data structure (scalar, array, hash, whatever) using an arbitrary string as its name. That is the very definition of a hash.

In fact, soft references are implemented under the hood as a hash. So, it's not like you're saving anything. :-)

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We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

Then there are Damian modules.... *sigh* ... that's not about being less-lazy -- that's about being on some really good drugs -- you know, there is no spoon. - flyingmoose