difference between hash and hash ref in perl

[monkeyking]

Could someone elaborete on the difference between hash's and hash references in perl.

And when to use what?

Thanks in advance

[Mr. C.]

A hash is a basic data type in Perl. It uses keys to access its contents.

A hash ref is an abbreviation to a reference to a hash. References are scalars, that is simple values. It is a scalar value that contains essentially, a pointer to the actual hash itself.

Got it?

MrC

[monkeyking]

yes,
pointer was the magic word
thanks.