How can I convert the stringified version of array reference to actual array reference in Perl?

Question

Is there any way to get Perl to convert the stringified version e.g (ARRAY(0x8152c28)) of an array reference to the actual array reference?

For example

Answer 1

In case someone finds this useful, I'm extending tobyink's answer by adding support for detecting segmentation faults. There are two approaches I discovered. The first way locally replaces $SIG{SEGV} and $SIG{BUS} before dereferencing. The second way masks the child signal and checks if a forked child can dereference successfully. The first way is significantly faster than the second.

Anyone is welcome to improve this answer.

First Approach

sub unstringify_ref($) {
  use bigint qw(hex);
  use Devel::FindRef;

  my $str = @_ ? shift : $_;
  if (defined $str and $str =~ /\((0x[a-fA-F0-9]+)\)$/) {
    my $addr = (hex $1)->bstr;

    local $@;
    return eval {
      local $SIG{SEGV} = sub { die };
      local $SIG{BUS} = sub { die };
      return Devel::FindRef::ptr2ref $addr;
    };
  }
  return undef;
}

I'm not sure if any other signals can occur in an attempt to access illegal memory.

Second Approach

sub unstringify_ref($) {
  use bigint qw(hex);
  use Devel::FindRef;
  use Signal::Mask;

  my $str = @_ ? shift : $_;
  if (defined $str and $str =~ /\((0x[a-fA-F0-9]+)\)$/) {
    my $addr = (hex $1)->bstr;

    local $!;
    local $?;
    local $Signal::Mask{CHLD} = 1;
    if (defined(my $kid = fork)) {
      # Child -- This might seg fault on invalid address.
      exit(not Devel::FindRef::ptr2ref $addr) unless $kid;
      # Parent
      waitpid $kid, 0;
      return Devel::FindRef::ptr2ref $addr if $? == 0;
    } else {
      warn 'Unable to fork: $!';
    }
  }
  return undef;
}

I'm not sure if the return value of waitpid needs to be checked.