my $x = "I am a string";
my $refX = \$x; #set a reference to $x
print "de-referenced: $$refX \n"; # the $$ says: de-reference as a 
        # scalar, what is pointed at by refX

print "de-referenced: ${$refX}\n"; #use a clearer syntax, that
    # some regard as easier to read

my @x1 = (1,2,3,4);
$refX = \@x1;      #set a  reference to an array
print "de-referenced: @$refX\n"; #print contents of the array
print "de-referenced: @{$refX}\n"; #the alternate syntax