Repeated Matching: /g

• In scalar context, /g turns the matcher into an iterator

        while ("I like pie" =~ /\w+/ g) {
          print "<$&>\n";
        }

        <I>
        <like>
        <pie>

• Each scalar has a current position

• /g starts from the current position and sets it afterwards

• You can get and set the current position with the pos function:

        my $s = "I like pie";
        for ($i = 0; $i < length($s); $i += 2) {
          pos($s) = $i;
          $s =~ /\w*/ g;
          print "<$&>\n";
        }

        <I>
        <like>
        <ke>
        <>
        <ie>

• A failed match on a string resets its pos

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Copyright © 2002 M. J. Dominus