http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=576191


in reply to Re^3: shift vs @_
in thread shift vs @_

$_[0] is actually a reference to the first argument passed by the caller.

I'm sure you know what you meant, but... $_[0] is (usually) an alias to the first argument. If it were a reference then you'd have to use ${$_[0]} or such.

- tye