• Store any number of unordered scalars
• numbers
• strings
• references
• any combination of above
• Organized in key/value pairs
• Have a name preceded by an % character
• May be declared in a local scope with a my qualifier

        my %wheels = (unicycle => 1,
                      bike     => 2,
                      tricycle => 3,
                      car      => 4,
                      semi     => 18);