$quick->{brown}->{fox} ->{$jumped} = 1 / $Lazy_dog; #### $stateCityPopulation = {Illinois => {Springfield => 116482}, Massachusets => {Springfield => 154082}, Missouri => {Springfield => 150797}}}; #### foreach my $state (qw(Illinois Massachusets Ohio Missouri)){ my $pop = $stateCityPopulation->{$state}->{Springfield} || next; $springfielders += $pop} #### $pop = ($stateCityPopulation->{$state} && $stateCityPopulation->{$state}->{Springfield}) || next;