$ perl -MDevel::Peek -e' sub x { my %h; Dump(%h, 0); keys(%h) = 100; Dump(%h, 0); } x() for 1..3; ' 2>&1 | grep MAX MAX = 7 MAX = 127 MAX = 127 <-- Preallocated even before C<< keys(%h) = 100; >>! MAX = 127 MAX = 127 <-- Preallocated even before C<< keys(%h) = 100; >>! MAX = 127