Regular Expression Mastery

Anti-Greed

What's the opposite of `greedy'? (`Monastic'?)
a+?b is just like a+b
Except it tries the arrows in the other order

/a+?b/

aaab

             START             |a a a b
             a                 |a a a b         Yes!
             +?                <a|a a b
              b                <a|a a b         Nope
              a                <a|a a b         Yes!
              +?               <a a|a b
               b               <a a|a b         Nope
               a               <a a|a b         Yes!
               +?              <a a a|b
                b              <a a a|b         Yes!
                END            <a a a b>        Yes!

Notice more backtracking
Usually less efficient
That's why the `normal' one is greedy