The q represents single quotes.
The qq represents double quotes.
The qx represents backquotes.
The qw represents a quoted list of words. (See "Array Slices" on page 84.)
Alternative Quoting Constructs
Quoting Construct What It Represents
q/Hello/ 'Hello'
qq/Hello/ "Hello"
qx/date/ 'date'
@list=qw/red yellow blue/; @list=( 'red', 'yellow', 'blue');