Arrays and Hashes

Hashes

• Hashes are similiar to arrays in that they represent a collection of related scalars.
• Hashes are different to arrays in that they are an unordered list, as opposed to an ordered list.
• Hashes are also different to arrays in that individual scalar members are referenced not by numeric indexes, but rather by other scalar keys .
• Hashes are also different to arrays in that assigning a scalar to an index that exceeds the existing end of the array will extend the array to include that and all interveaning indexes. A hash, not being ordered, does not have an end, and will only be extended by a single scalar no matter "where" the single scalar is added.
• Hash variables are identified by a leading percent (%) sign, and individual elements are accessed with the syntax %HashName{KeyName}.
• Example:
  

  $Results{"Bill"} = 1000; 
  $Results{"Bob"} = "forfeit"; 
  $Results{"Betty"} = 6000;