```{index} single: Dump; Devel::Peek function ``` ```{index} single: Devel::Peek::Dump; Perl function ``` # Dump Dump one scalar's internal representation to `STDERR`. The usual entry point for `Devel::Peek`; reaches for this first when you need to see what Perl has under the hood. `Dump($sv, $depth=4)`. `$depth` caps both recursion into nested references and the number of array/hash elements shown at each level; pass a larger value to see past the default cutoff. When called on `@array` or `%hash` directly, the aggregate itself is dumped (not its first element). Any other argument is evaluated in scalar rvalue context. The dump layout follows the shape shown in the module summary: an `SV = (body) at ` line, then `REFCNT`, `FLAGS`, and whichever of the `IV` / `NV` / `PV` / `RV` / array / hash slots are populated. Reference dumps nest a child `SV = ...` block inside the parent. Two package variables tune the output: - `$Devel::Peek::pv_limit` — cap on characters printed per `PV`; `0` lifts the cap entirely. - `$Devel::Peek::dump_ops` — when true, `CV`-like scalars also print their op tree (see `DumpWithOP` for the scoped form). Returns nothing; all output is on `STDERR`.