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An associative array is a "software implemented" associative memory where you can fetch values by names or attributes or technically keys
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An associative array is a set of pairs (key,value).
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The whole array is referred to as %dict and is typically set with instructions like
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$dict{keyname} = value; # NOTE Curly braces {} to show array associative
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The values can be used in ordinary arithmetic such as
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$math{pi}=3.14; $math{pi} += .0016; # sets $math{pi}=3.1416;
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pi or "pi" is allowed for specifying key
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If key pimisspelt has not been defined then $math{pimisspelt} returns undef as value and so one can easily see if a particular key has been set.
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Alternatively function exists($math{pimisspelt}) returns false unless key pimisspelt has been set
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