Hi, I can think of some reasons we use $ instead of @ for array indices (in Perl5):
1. because we are referring to a scalar, not an array slice, and it's misleading to use @ 2. because it's common usage and all professional code uses it 3. because @array[0] may in some selected cases be treated as a list, for example @array[0] = @array2 (copies first element) vs. $array[0] = @array2 (copies number of elements) however, aside from the extremely limited-application code example in 3. above, I was unable to come up with a practical justification for using @. I'm talking demonstrable reason, not any "just because it's proper" reasons like 1 and 2 above. I can talk their ears off telling them it's the right thing to do, but I'd prefer to have some practical reason. thanks! David