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revision 596 by ph10, Mon May 2 10:47:52 2011 UTC revision 637 by ph10, Sun Jul 24 17:44:12 2011 UTC
# Line 20  in the main Line 20  in the main
20  .\"  .\"
21  page.  page.
22  .P  .P
23  2. PCRE does not allow repeat quantifiers on assertions. Perl permits them, but  2. PCRE allows repeat quantifiers only on parenthesized assertions, but they do
24  they do not mean what you might think. For example, (?!a){3} does not assert  not mean what you might think. For example, (?!a){3} does not assert that the
25  that the next three characters are not "a". It just asserts that the next  next three characters are not "a". It just asserts that the next character is
26  character is not "a" three times.  not "a" three times (in principle: PCRE optimizes this to run the assertion
27    just once). Perl allows repeat quantifiers on other assertions such as \b, but
28    these do not seem to have any use.
29  .P  .P
30  3. Capturing subpatterns that occur inside negative lookahead assertions are  3. Capturing subpatterns that occur inside negative lookahead assertions are
31  counted, but their entries in the offsets vector are never set. Perl sets its  counted, but their entries in the offsets vector are never set. Perl sets its
# Line 37  terminated by zero. The escape sequence Line 39  terminated by zero. The escape sequence
39  represent a binary zero.  represent a binary zero.
40  .P  .P
41  5. The following Perl escape sequences are not supported: \el, \eu, \eL,  5. The following Perl escape sequences are not supported: \el, \eu, \eL,
42  \eU, and \eN. In fact these are implemented by Perl's general string-handling  \eU, and \eN when followed by a character name or Unicode value. (\eN on its
43  and are not part of its pattern matching engine. If any of these are  own, matching a non-newline character, is supported.) In fact these are
44  encountered by PCRE, an error is generated.  implemented by Perl's general string-handling and are not part of its pattern
45    matching engine. If any of these are encountered by PCRE, an error is
46    generated.
47  .P  .P
48  6. The Perl escape sequences \ep, \eP, and \eX are supported only if PCRE is  6. The Perl escape sequences \ep, \eP, and \eX are supported only if PCRE is
49  built with Unicode character property support. The properties that can be  built with Unicode character property support. The properties that can be
# Line 50  Perl documentation says "Because Perl hi Line 54  Perl documentation says "Because Perl hi
54  the internal representation of Unicode characters, there is no need to  the internal representation of Unicode characters, there is no need to
55  implement the somewhat messy concept of surrogates."  implement the somewhat messy concept of surrogates."
56  .P  .P
57  7. PCRE does support the \eQ...\eE escape for quoting substrings. Characters in  7. PCRE implements a simpler version of \eX than Perl, which changed to make
58    \eX match what Unicode calls an "extended grapheme cluster". This is more
59    complicated than an extended Unicode sequence, which is what PCRE matches.
60    .P
61    8. PCRE does support the \eQ...\eE escape for quoting substrings. Characters in
62  between are treated as literals. This is slightly different from Perl in that $  between are treated as literals. This is slightly different from Perl in that $
63  and @ are also handled as literals inside the quotes. In Perl, they cause  and @ are also handled as literals inside the quotes. In Perl, they cause
64  variable interpolation (but of course PCRE does not have variables). Note the  variable interpolation (but of course PCRE does not have variables). Note the
# Line 66  following examples: Line 74  following examples:
74  .sp  .sp
75  The \eQ...\eE sequence is recognized both inside and outside character classes.  The \eQ...\eE sequence is recognized both inside and outside character classes.
76  .P  .P
77  8. Fairly obviously, PCRE does not support the (?{code}) and (??{code})  9. Fairly obviously, PCRE does not support the (?{code}) and (??{code})
78  constructions. However, there is support for recursive patterns. This is not  constructions. However, there is support for recursive patterns. This is not
79  available in Perl 5.8, but it is in Perl 5.10. Also, the PCRE "callout"  available in Perl 5.8, but it is in Perl 5.10. Also, the PCRE "callout"
80  feature allows an external function to be called during pattern matching. See  feature allows an external function to be called during pattern matching. See
# Line 76  the Line 84  the
84  .\"  .\"
85  documentation for details.  documentation for details.
86  .P  .P
87  9. Subpatterns that are called recursively or as "subroutines" are always  10. Subpatterns that are called recursively or as "subroutines" are always
88  treated as atomic groups in PCRE. This is like Python, but unlike Perl. There  treated as atomic groups in PCRE. This is like Python, but unlike Perl. There
89  is a discussion of an example that explains this in more detail in the  is a discussion of an example that explains this in more detail in the
90  .\" HTML <a href="pcrepattern.html#recursiondifference">  .\" HTML <a href="pcrepattern.html#recursiondifference">
# Line 89  in the Line 97  in the
97  .\"  .\"
98  page.  page.
99  .P  .P
100  10. There are some differences that are concerned with the settings of captured  11. There are some differences that are concerned with the settings of captured
101  strings when part of a pattern is repeated. For example, matching "aba" against  strings when part of a pattern is repeated. For example, matching "aba" against
102  the pattern /^(a(b)?)+$/ in Perl leaves $2 unset, but in PCRE it is set to "b".  the pattern /^(a(b)?)+$/ in Perl leaves $2 unset, but in PCRE it is set to "b".
103  .P  .P
104  11. PCRE's handling of duplicate subpattern numbers and duplicate subpattern  12. PCRE's handling of duplicate subpattern numbers and duplicate subpattern
105  names is not as general as Perl's. This is a consequence of the fact the PCRE  names is not as general as Perl's. This is a consequence of the fact the PCRE
106  works internally just with numbers, using an external table to translate  works internally just with numbers, using an external table to translate
107  between numbers and names. In particular, a pattern such as (?|(?<a>A)|(?<b)B),  between numbers and names. In particular, a pattern such as (?|(?<a>A)|(?<b)B),
# Line 103  would not be possible to distinguish whi Line 111  would not be possible to distinguish whi
111  names map to capturing subpattern number 1. To avoid this confusing situation,  names map to capturing subpattern number 1. To avoid this confusing situation,
112  an error is given at compile time.  an error is given at compile time.
113  .P  .P
114  12. Perl recognizes comments in some places that PCRE doesn't, for example,  13. Perl recognizes comments in some places that PCRE does not, for example,
115  between the ( and ? at the start of a subpattern.  between the ( and ? at the start of a subpattern. If the /x modifier is set,
116    Perl allows whitespace between ( and ? but PCRE never does, even if the
117    PCRE_EXTENDED option is set.
118  .P  .P
119  13. PCRE provides some extensions to the Perl regular expression facilities.  14. PCRE provides some extensions to the Perl regular expression facilities.
120  Perl 5.10 includes new features that are not in earlier versions of Perl, some  Perl 5.10 includes new features that are not in earlier versions of Perl, some
121  of which (such as named parentheses) have been in PCRE for some time. This list  of which (such as named parentheses) have been in PCRE for some time. This list
122  is with respect to Perl 5.10:  is with respect to Perl 5.10:
# Line 163  Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. Line 173  Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
173  .rs  .rs
174  .sp  .sp
175  .nf  .nf
176  Last updated: 02 May 2011  Last updated: 24 July 2011
177  Copyright (c) 1997-2011 University of Cambridge.  Copyright (c) 1997-2011 University of Cambridge.
178  .fi  .fi
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