What are best practices for working with avoiding unnecessary copying?

When working with data in Perl, avoiding unnecessary copying of data structures can lead to improved performance and reduced memory usage. Here are some best practices to consider:

• Use References: Instead of passing large arrays or hashes, use references to avoid copying the entire data structure.
• Modify In-Place: When possible, modify data structures in place rather than creating new copies.
• Use Scalar Context: Be mindful of how variables are used in different contexts to avoid unintended copying.
• Utilize Built-In Functions: Leverage Perl's built-in functions that operate on references, such as `push`, `pop`, and `splice`, to minimize copying overhead.

By adhering to these practices, you can enhance the efficiency of your Perl programs significantly.