Learning Perl, Second Edition

3.7. Variable Interpolation of Arrays

Like scalars, array values may be interpolated into a double-quoted string. A single element of an array will be replaced by its value, like so:

@fred = ("hello","dolly");
$y = 2;
$x = "This is $fred[1]'s place";     # "This is dolly's place"
$x = "This is $fred[$y-1]'s place";  # same thing

Note that the index expression is evaluated as an ordinary expression, as if it were outside a string. It is not variable interpolated first.

If you want to follow a simple scalar variable reference with a literal left square bracket, you need to delimit the square bracket so it isn't considered part of the array, as follows:

@fred = ("hello","dolly");  # give value to @fred for testing
$fred = "right";
                            # we are trying to say "this is right[1]"
$x = "this is $fred[1]";    # wrong, gives "this is dolly"
$x = "this is ${fred}[1]";  # right (protected by braces)
$x = "this is $fred"."[1]"; # right (different string)
$x = "this is $fred\[1]";   # right (backslash hides it)

Similarly, a list of values from an array variable can be interpolated. The simplest interpolation is an entire array, indicated by giving the array name (including its leading @ character). In this case, the elements are interpolated in sequence with a space character between them, as in:

@fred = ("a","bb","ccc",1,2,3);
$all = "Now for @fred here!";
    # $all gets "Now for a bb ccc 1 2 3 here!"

You can also select a portion of an array with a slice:

@fred = ("a","bb","ccc",1,2,3); $all = "Now for @fred[2,3] ...