# get an array full of the next row of data that matches the query # (the most common, and simplest, case) while (my @ary = $sth->fetchrow_array();) { print "The first field is $ary[0]\n"; } # get a hash reference instead # (the more complicated, but more useful, version) while (my $hashref= $sth->fetchrow_hashref();) { print "Name is $hashref->{'name'}\n"; } # you can also get an arrayref # (equally complicated and not quite as useful) my $ary_ref = $sth->fetchrow_arrayref();
Readme: Of the above methods, fetchrow_array() is the only one that does not require an understanding of Perl references. References are not a beginner-level topic, but for those who are interested, they are documented in chapter 4 of the Camel. They are worth learning if only for the added benefit of being able to access fields by name when using the fetchrow_hashref method.