Regexp::DeferredExecution - Defer execution of (?{}) codeblocks until the end of a successful match
(?{})
use Regexp::DeferredExecution; "foobar" =~ /(?:foo (?{ warn "matched foo!" }) ) d | (?:bar (?{ warn "matched bar!"}) ) /x; __END__ matched bar!
The Perl regular expression engine provides a special embedded pattern, (?{ <code> }), that immediately executes <code> if and when the pattern is used during the matching process. In the SYNOPSIS example, the initial foo subpattern is initially matched by the regular expression engine, and the associated code would normally be executed immediately, even though the final successful match does not include the foo subpattern nor it's associated code. Sometimes, that's not the desired behavior.
(?{ <code> })
<code>
foo
Regexp::DeferredExecution overrides the qr function such that all of the code blocks get deferred until the very end of the match, at which time only the blocks participating in the overall successful match are executed. That doesn't sound like much, but it does allow you to change this:
qr
if(m/ (fee) .* (fie) .* (foe) .* (fum) /x) { ($fee, $fie, $foe, $fum) = ($1, $2, $3, $4); }
into:
use Regexp::DeferredExecution; m/ (fee) (?{ $fee = $^N }) .* (fie) (?{ $fie = $^N }) .* (foe) (?{ $foe = $^N }) .* (fum) (?{ $fum = $^N }) /x;
Which means that adding new sets of capturing parentheses doesn't require the counting exercise to figure out which set is $1, $2, etc.
Of course this mechanism isn't specific to code that makes assignments from $^N; there's no doubt a bunch of other clever things you can do with this as well. I'll let you know as I run into them.
There's also an article describing the issues with (?{}) at perl.com:
http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2004/01/16/regexps.html
Like any other package that overloads core functionality, you can turn it on and off via "use" and "no" statements.
Note that only the currently active $^N matching variable is kept for delayed access (e.g. don't try to access other special regexp variables from within a (?{}) code block, because they might not be as you'd expect). Not really a bug, just a lack of features.
None so far, but it's still early.
When closures can be compiled from within (?{}) constructs, all the special variables will become available and this will all be much simpler.
Aaron J. Mackey <amackey@virginia.edu>
perlre, Regexp::Fields, Regexp::English
To install Regexp::DeferredExecution, copy and paste the appropriate command in to your terminal.
cpanm
cpanm Regexp::DeferredExecution
CPAN shell
perl -MCPAN -e shell install Regexp::DeferredExecution
For more information on module installation, please visit the detailed CPAN module installation guide.