How to convert an array reference to an array in Perl?

Question

I know I can create an array and a reference to an array as follows:

my @arr = ();
my $rarr = \@arr;

I can then iterate over the array reference as follows:

foreach my $i (@{$rarr}){
}

Is there a way to copy or convert the array ref to a normal array so I can return it from a function? (Ideally without using that foreach loop and a push).

• tadmc: You cannot return an array in Perl. (you can however, return the list that an array contains)

Answer 1

You have the answer in your question :-)

use warnings;
use strict;
sub foo() {
 my @arr = ();
 push @arr, "hello", ", ", "world", "\n";
 my $arf = \@arr;
 return @{$arf}; # <- here
}
my @bar = foo();
map { print; } (@bar);

• Serg Kryvonos: can just return @arr;?

Answer 2

Like this:

return @{$reference};

You're then just returning a dereferenced reference.

• Serg Kryvonos: it returns an empty array this way

Answer 3

you can copy the array simply by assigning to a new array:

my @copy_of_array = @$array_ref;

BUT, you don't need to do that just to return the modified array. Since it's a reference to the array, updating the array through the reference is all you need to do!