for my $tab ( 1 .. 3 ) { my @array = frobnicate($tab); printf "Array ref: %s\n", \@array; printf "Annoymous: %s\n", [@array]; } sub frobnicate { return ( 0 .. shift ); } __END__ Array ref: ARRAY(0x826a924) Annoymous: ARRAY(0x8183a54) Array ref: ARRAY(0x826a924) Annoymous: ARRAY(0x826d818) Array ref: ARRAY(0x826a924) Annoymous: ARRAY(0x82115f8)