3.3 Variables

An array variable holds a single list value (zero or more scalar values). Array variable names are similar to scalar variable names, differing only in the initial character, which is an at sign ( @ ) rather than a dollar sign ( $ ). For example:

@fred # the array variable @fred
@A_Very_Long_Array_Variable_Name
@A_Very_Long_Array_Variable_Name_that_is_different

Note that the array variable @fred is unrelated to the scalar variable $fred . Perl maintains separate namespaces for different types of things.

The value of an array variable that has not yet been assigned is () , the empty list.

An expression can refer to array variables as a whole, or it can examine and modify individual elements of the array.