#!/usr/local/bin/perl

use strict;

# example of methods for referencing array elements

# set array to an array of numbers
my @array = qw(1 2 3 4 5);

# check output
print "\@array = " . join(",",@array) . "\n";


# define a reference to the array
my $array_ref = \@array;

# check output
print "\@{\$array_ref}  = " . join(",",@{$array_ref}) . "\n";


# individual elements
# the third element in the array is [2]
print "\@{\$array_ref}[2] = " . @{$array_ref}[2] . "\n";


# or another way
my @dereference_array = @{$array_ref};

print "\n\n\@dereference_array = \@{\$array_ref}\n";
print "\$dereference_array[2]  = " .  $dereference_array[2]  . "\n";


# or a more complex way
print "\n\$array_ref->[2] = " .  $array_ref->[2] . "\n";




# OUTPUT:
# @array = 1,2,3,4,5
# @{$array_ref}  = 1,2,3,4,5
# @{$array_ref}[2] = 3
# 
# 
# @dereference_array = @{$array_ref}
# $dereference_array[2]  = 3
# 
# $array_ref->[2] = 3