http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=451423


in reply to Differ. array and List

A list is an ordered collection of scalars. An array is a variable that contains a list. The two terms are often used as if they're interchangeable. But, to be accurate, the list is the data, and the array is the variable. You can have a list value that isn't in an array, but every array variable holds a list (although that list may be empty).

List Assignment

($fred, $barney, $dino) = ("flintstone", "rubble", undef); ($fred, $barney) = ($barney, $fred);

Array Assignment

@rocks = qw/ bedrock slate lava /; @tiny = ( ); # the empty list $dino = "granite"; @quarry = (@rocks, "crushed rock", @tiny, $dino);