$ perl -MDevel::Peek -e' my @a = qw( a b c ); Dump(\@a,1); @a=(); Dump(\@a,1); undef(@a); Dump(\@a,1); ' SV = IV(0x816ce54) at 0x816ce58 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (TEMP,ROK) RV = 0x817bc50 SV = PVAV(0x816d038) at 0x817bc50 REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (PADMY) ARRAY = 0x817b500 FILL = 2 <---- 3 elements MAX = 3 <---- 4 slots ARYLEN = 0x0 FLAGS = (REAL) SV = IV(0x816c154) at 0x816c158 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (TEMP,ROK) RV = 0x817bc50 SV = PVAV(0x816d038) at 0x817bc50 REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (PADMY) ARRAY = 0x817b500 FILL = -1 <---- 0 elements MAX = 3 <---- 4 slots ARYLEN = 0x0 FLAGS = (REAL) SV = IV(0x816c154) at 0x816c158 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (TEMP,ROK) RV = 0x817bc50 SV = PVAV(0x816d038) at 0x817bc50 REFCNT = 2 FLAGS = (PADMY) ARRAY = 0x0 <---- No array allocated FILL = -1 <---- 0 elements MAX = -1 <---- 0 slots ARYLEN = 0x0 FLAGS = (REAL)