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version 1.1, 2012/02/21 23:05:51
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version 1.1.1.4, 2013/07/22 08:25:56
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Line 49 complexity in Perl regular expressions, I couldn't do
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Line 49 complexity in Perl regular expressions, I couldn't do
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| first pass through the pattern is helpful for other reasons. |
first pass through the pattern is helpful for other reasons. |
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Support for 16-bit and 32-bit data strings |
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From release 8.30, PCRE supports 16-bit as well as 8-bit data strings; and from |
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release 8.32, PCRE supports 32-bit data strings. The library can be compiled |
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in any combination of 8-bit, 16-bit or 32-bit modes, creating different |
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libraries. In the description that follows, the word "short" is |
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used for a 16-bit data quantity, and the word "unit" is used for a quantity |
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that is a byte in 8-bit mode, a short in 16-bit mode and a 32-bit unsigned |
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integer in 32-bit mode. However, so as not to over-complicate the text, the |
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names of PCRE functions are given in 8-bit form only. |
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| Computing the memory requirement: how it was |
Computing the memory requirement: how it was |
| -------------------------------------------- |
-------------------------------------------- |
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Line 125 any more.
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Line 138 any more.
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| Format of compiled patterns |
Format of compiled patterns |
| --------------------------- |
--------------------------- |
| |
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| The compiled form of a pattern is a vector of bytes, containing items of | The compiled form of a pattern is a vector of units (bytes in 8-bit mode, or |
| variable length. The first byte in an item is an opcode, and the length of the | shorts in 16-bit mode, 32-bit unsigned integers in 32-bit mode), containing |
| item is either implicit in the opcode or contained in the data bytes that | items of variable length. The first unit in an item contains an opcode, and |
| follow it. | the length of the item is either implicit in the opcode or contained in the |
| | data that follows it. |
| |
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| In many cases below LINK_SIZE data values are specified for offsets within the | In many cases listed below, LINK_SIZE data values are specified for offsets |
| compiled pattern. The default value for LINK_SIZE is 2, but PCRE can be | within the compiled pattern. LINK_SIZE always specifies a number of bytes. The |
| compiled to use 3-byte or 4-byte values for these offsets (impairing the | default value for LINK_SIZE is 2, but PCRE can be compiled to use 3-byte or |
| performance). This is necessary only when patterns whose compiled length is | 4-byte values for these offsets, although this impairs the performance. (3-byte |
| greater than 64K are going to be processed. In this description, we assume the | LINK_SIZE values are available only in 8-bit mode.) Specifing a LINK_SIZE |
| "normal" compilation options. Data values that are counts (e.g. for | larger than 2 is necessary only when patterns whose compiled length is greater |
| quantifiers) are always just two bytes long. | than 64K are going to be processed. In this description, we assume the "normal" |
| | compilation options. Data values that are counts (e.g. for quantifiers) are |
| | always just two bytes long (one short in 16-bit mode). |
| |
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| Opcodes with no following data |
Opcodes with no following data |
| ------------------------------ |
------------------------------ |
| |
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| These items are all just one byte long | These items are all just one unit long |
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| OP_END end of pattern |
OP_END end of pattern |
| OP_ANY match any one character other than newline |
OP_ANY match any one character other than newline |
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Line 182 Backtracking control verbs with (optional) data
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Line 198 Backtracking control verbs with (optional) data
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| ----------------------------------------------- |
----------------------------------------------- |
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| (*THEN) without an argument generates the opcode OP_THEN and no following data. |
(*THEN) without an argument generates the opcode OP_THEN and no following data. |
| OP_MARK is followed by the mark name, preceded by a one-byte length, and | OP_MARK is followed by the mark name, preceded by a one-unit length, and |
| followed by a binary zero. For (*PRUNE), (*SKIP), and (*THEN) with arguments, |
followed by a binary zero. For (*PRUNE), (*SKIP), and (*THEN) with arguments, |
| the opcodes OP_PRUNE_ARG, OP_SKIP_ARG, and OP_THEN_ARG are used, with the name |
the opcodes OP_PRUNE_ARG, OP_SKIP_ARG, and OP_THEN_ARG are used, with the name |
| following in the same format. |
following in the same format. |
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Line 192 Matching literal characters
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Line 208 Matching literal characters
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| --------------------------- |
--------------------------- |
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| The OP_CHAR opcode is followed by a single character that is to be matched |
The OP_CHAR opcode is followed by a single character that is to be matched |
| casefully. For caseless matching, OP_CHARI is used. In UTF-8 mode, the | casefully. For caseless matching, OP_CHARI is used. In UTF-8 or UTF-16 modes, |
| character may be more than one byte long. (Earlier versions of PCRE used | the character may be more than one unit long. In UTF-32 mode, characters |
| multi-character strings, but this was changed to allow some new features to be | are always exactly one unit long. |
| added.) | |
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| Repeating single characters |
Repeating single characters |
| --------------------------- |
--------------------------- |
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| The common repeats (*, +, ?) when applied to a single character use the | The common repeats (*, +, ?), when applied to a single character, use the |
| following opcodes, which come in caseful and caseless versions: |
following opcodes, which come in caseful and caseless versions: |
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| Caseful Caseless |
Caseful Caseless |
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Line 215 following opcodes, which come in caseful and caseless
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Line 230 following opcodes, which come in caseful and caseless
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| OP_MINQUERY OP_MINQUERYI |
OP_MINQUERY OP_MINQUERYI |
| OP_POSQUERY OP_POSQUERYI |
OP_POSQUERY OP_POSQUERYI |
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| In ASCII mode, these are two-byte items; in UTF-8 mode, the length is variable. | Each opcode is followed by the character that is to be repeated. In ASCII mode, |
| Those with "MIN" in their name are the minimizing versions. Those with "POS" in | these are two-unit items; in UTF-8 or UTF-16 modes, the length is variable; in |
| their names are possessive versions. Each is followed by the character that is | UTF-32 mode these are one-unit items. |
| to be repeated. Other repeats make use of these opcodes: | Those with "MIN" in their names are the minimizing versions. Those with "POS" |
| | in their names are possessive versions. Other repeats make use of these |
| | opcodes: |
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| Caseful Caseless |
Caseful Caseless |
| OP_UPTO OP_UPTOI |
OP_UPTO OP_UPTOI |
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Line 226 to be repeated. Other repeats make use of these opcode
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Line 243 to be repeated. Other repeats make use of these opcode
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| OP_POSUPTO OP_POSUPTOI |
OP_POSUPTO OP_POSUPTOI |
| OP_EXACT OP_EXACTI |
OP_EXACT OP_EXACTI |
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| Each of these is followed by a two-byte count (most significant first) and the | Each of these is followed by a two-byte (one short) count (most significant |
| repeated character. OP_UPTO matches from 0 to the given number. A repeat with a | byte first in 8-bit mode) and then the repeated character. OP_UPTO matches from |
| non-zero minimum and a fixed maximum is coded as an OP_EXACT followed by an | 0 to the given number. A repeat with a non-zero minimum and a fixed maximum is |
| OP_UPTO (or OP_MINUPTO or OPT_POSUPTO). | coded as an OP_EXACT followed by an OP_UPTO (or OP_MINUPTO or OPT_POSUPTO). |
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| Repeating character types |
Repeating character types |
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Line 237 Repeating character types
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Line 254 Repeating character types
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| Repeats of things like \d are done exactly as for single characters, except |
Repeats of things like \d are done exactly as for single characters, except |
| that instead of a character, the opcode for the type is stored in the data |
that instead of a character, the opcode for the type is stored in the data |
| byte. The opcodes are: | unit. The opcodes are: |
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| OP_TYPESTAR |
OP_TYPESTAR |
| OP_TYPEMINSTAR |
OP_TYPEMINSTAR |
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Line 259 Match by Unicode property
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Line 276 Match by Unicode property
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| OP_PROP and OP_NOTPROP are used for positive and negative matches of a |
OP_PROP and OP_NOTPROP are used for positive and negative matches of a |
| character by testing its Unicode property (the \p and \P escape sequences). |
character by testing its Unicode property (the \p and \P escape sequences). |
| Each is followed by two bytes that encode the desired property as a type and a | Each is followed by two units that encode the desired property as a type and a |
| value. |
value. |
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| Repeats of these items use the OP_TYPESTAR etc. set of opcodes, followed by | Repeats of these items use the OP_TYPESTAR etc. set of opcodes, followed by |
| three bytes: OP_PROP or OP_NOTPROP and then the desired property type and | three units: OP_PROP or OP_NOTPROP, and then the desired property type and |
| value. |
value. |
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| Character classes |
Character classes |
| ----------------- |
----------------- |
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| If there is only one character, OP_CHAR or OP_CHARI is used for a positive | If there is only one character in the class, OP_CHAR or OP_CHARI is used for a |
| class, and OP_NOT or OP_NOTI for a negative one (that is, for something like | positive class, and OP_NOT or OP_NOTI for a negative one (that is, for |
| [^a]). However, in UTF-8 mode, the use of OP_NOT[I] applies only to characters | something like [^a]). |
| with values < 128, because OP_NOT[I] is confined to single bytes. | |
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| Another set of 13 repeating opcodes (called OP_NOTSTAR etc.) are used for a | Another set of 13 repeating opcodes (called OP_NOTSTAR etc.) are used for |
| repeated, negated, single-character class. The normal single-character opcodes | repeated, negated, single-character classes. The normal single-character |
| (OP_STAR, etc.) are used for a repeated positive single-character class. | opcodes (OP_STAR, etc.) are used for repeated positive single-character |
| | classes. |
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| When there is more than one character in a class and all the characters are |
When there is more than one character in a class and all the characters are |
| less than 256, OP_CLASS is used for a positive class, and OP_NCLASS for a |
less than 256, OP_CLASS is used for a positive class, and OP_NCLASS for a |
| negative one. In either case, the opcode is followed by a 32-byte bit map | negative one. In either case, the opcode is followed by a 32-byte (16-short) |
| containing a 1 bit for every character that is acceptable. The bits are counted | bit map containing a 1 bit for every character that is acceptable. The bits are |
| from the least significant end of each byte. In caseless mode, bits for both | counted from the least significant end of each unit. In caseless mode, bits for |
| cases are set. | both cases are set. |
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| The reason for having both OP_CLASS and OP_NCLASS is so that, in UTF-8 mode, | The reason for having both OP_CLASS and OP_NCLASS is so that, in UTF-8/16/32 mode, |
| subject characters with values greater than 256 can be handled correctly. For | subject characters with values greater than 255 can be handled correctly. For |
| OP_CLASS they do not match, whereas for OP_NCLASS they do. |
OP_CLASS they do not match, whereas for OP_NCLASS they do. |
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| For classes containing characters with values > 255, OP_XCLASS is used. It | For classes containing characters with values greater than 255, OP_XCLASS is |
| optionally uses a bit map (if any characters lie within it), followed by a list | used. It optionally uses a bit map (if any characters lie within it), followed |
| of pairs (for a range) and single characters. In caseless mode, both cases are | by a list of pairs (for a range) and single characters. In caseless mode, both |
| explicitly listed. There is a flag character than indicates whether it is a | cases are explicitly listed. There is a flag character than indicates whether |
| positive or a negative class. | it is a positive or a negative class. |
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| Back references |
Back references |
| --------------- |
--------------- |
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| OP_REF (caseful) or OP_REFI (caseless) is followed by two bytes containing the | OP_REF (caseful) or OP_REFI (caseless) is followed by two bytes (one short) |
| reference number. | containing the reference number. |
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| Repeating character classes and back references |
Repeating character classes and back references |
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Line 321 if it is one of
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Line 338 if it is one of
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| OP_CRRANGE |
OP_CRRANGE |
| OP_CRMINRANGE |
OP_CRMINRANGE |
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| All but the last two are just single-byte items. The others are followed by | All but the last two are just single-unit items. The others are followed by |
| four bytes of data, comprising the minimum and maximum repeat counts. There are | four bytes (two shorts) of data, comprising the minimum and maximum repeat |
| no special possessive opcodes for these repeats; a possessive repeat is | counts. There are no special possessive opcodes for these repeats; a possessive |
| compiled into an atomic group. | repeat is compiled into an atomic group. |
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| Brackets and alternation |
Brackets and alternation |
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Line 334 A pair of non-capturing (round) brackets is wrapped ro
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Line 351 A pair of non-capturing (round) brackets is wrapped ro
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| compile time, so alternation always happens in the context of brackets. |
compile time, so alternation always happens in the context of brackets. |
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| [Note for North Americans: "bracket" to some English speakers, including |
[Note for North Americans: "bracket" to some English speakers, including |
| myself, can be round, square, curly, or pointy. Hence this usage.] | myself, can be round, square, curly, or pointy. Hence this usage rather than |
| | "parentheses".] |
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| Non-capturing brackets use the opcode OP_BRA. Originally PCRE was limited to 99 |
Non-capturing brackets use the opcode OP_BRA. Originally PCRE was limited to 99 |
| capturing brackets and it used a different opcode for each one. From release |
capturing brackets and it used a different opcode for each one. From release |
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Line 346 A bracket opcode is followed by LINK_SIZE bytes which
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Line 364 A bracket opcode is followed by LINK_SIZE bytes which
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| next alternative OP_ALT or, if there aren't any branches, to the matching |
next alternative OP_ALT or, if there aren't any branches, to the matching |
| OP_KET opcode. Each OP_ALT is followed by LINK_SIZE bytes giving the offset to |
OP_KET opcode. Each OP_ALT is followed by LINK_SIZE bytes giving the offset to |
| the next one, or to the OP_KET opcode. For capturing brackets, the bracket |
the next one, or to the OP_KET opcode. For capturing brackets, the bracket |
| number immediately follows the offset, always as a 2-byte item. | number immediately follows the offset, always as a 2-byte (one short) item. |
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| OP_KET is used for subpatterns that do not repeat indefinitely, while | OP_KET is used for subpatterns that do not repeat indefinitely, and |
| OP_KETRMIN and OP_KETRMAX are used for indefinite repetitions, minimally or |
OP_KETRMIN and OP_KETRMAX are used for indefinite repetitions, minimally or |
| maximally respectively (see below for possessive repetitions). All three are |
maximally respectively (see below for possessive repetitions). All three are |
| followed by LINK_SIZE bytes giving (as a positive number) the offset back to |
followed by LINK_SIZE bytes giving (as a positive number) the offset back to |
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Line 356 the matching bracket opcode.
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Line 374 the matching bracket opcode.
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| If a subpattern is quantified such that it is permitted to match zero times, it |
If a subpattern is quantified such that it is permitted to match zero times, it |
| is preceded by one of OP_BRAZERO, OP_BRAMINZERO, or OP_SKIPZERO. These are |
is preceded by one of OP_BRAZERO, OP_BRAMINZERO, or OP_SKIPZERO. These are |
| single-byte opcodes that tell the matcher that skipping the following | single-unit opcodes that tell the matcher that skipping the following |
| subpattern entirely is a valid branch. In the case of the first two, not |
subpattern entirely is a valid branch. In the case of the first two, not |
| skipping the pattern is also valid (greedy and non-greedy). The third is used |
skipping the pattern is also valid (greedy and non-greedy). The third is used |
| when a pattern has the quantifier {0,0}. It cannot be entirely discarded, |
when a pattern has the quantifier {0,0}. It cannot be entirely discarded, |
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Line 395 Assertions
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Line 413 Assertions
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| Forward assertions are just like other subpatterns, but starting with one of |
Forward assertions are just like other subpatterns, but starting with one of |
| the opcodes OP_ASSERT or OP_ASSERT_NOT. Backward assertions use the opcodes |
the opcodes OP_ASSERT or OP_ASSERT_NOT. Backward assertions use the opcodes |
| OP_ASSERTBACK and OP_ASSERTBACK_NOT, and the first opcode inside the assertion |
OP_ASSERTBACK and OP_ASSERTBACK_NOT, and the first opcode inside the assertion |
| is OP_REVERSE, followed by a two byte count of the number of characters to move | is OP_REVERSE, followed by a two byte (one short) count of the number of |
| back the pointer in the subject string. When operating in UTF-8 mode, the count | characters to move back the pointer in the subject string. In ASCII mode, the |
| is a character count rather than a byte count. A separate count is present in | count is a number of units, but in UTF-8/16 mode each character may occupy more |
| each alternative of a lookbehind assertion, allowing them to have different | than one unit; in UTF-32 mode each character occupies exactly one unit. |
| fixed lengths. | A separate count is present in each alternative of a lookbehind |
| | assertion, allowing them to have different fixed lengths. |
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| Once-only (atomic) subpatterns |
Once-only (atomic) subpatterns |
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Line 416 Conditional subpatterns
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Line 435 Conditional subpatterns
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| These are like other subpatterns, but they start with the opcode OP_COND, or |
These are like other subpatterns, but they start with the opcode OP_COND, or |
| OP_SCOND for one that might match an empty string in an unbounded repeat. If |
OP_SCOND for one that might match an empty string in an unbounded repeat. If |
| the condition is a back reference, this is stored at the start of the |
the condition is a back reference, this is stored at the start of the |
| subpattern using the opcode OP_CREF followed by two bytes containing the | subpattern using the opcode OP_CREF followed by two bytes (one short) |
| reference number. OP_NCREF is used instead if the reference was generated by | containing the reference number. OP_NCREF is used instead if the reference was |
| name (so that the runtime code knows to check for duplicate names). | generated by name (so that the runtime code knows to check for duplicate |
| | names). |
| |
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| If the condition is "in recursion" (coded as "(?(R)"), or "in recursion of |
If the condition is "in recursion" (coded as "(?(R)"), or "in recursion of |
| group x" (coded as "(?(Rx)"), the group number is stored at the start of the |
group x" (coded as "(?(Rx)"), the group number is stored at the start of the |
| subpattern using the opcode OP_RREF or OP_NRREF (cf OP_NCREF), and a value of |
subpattern using the opcode OP_RREF or OP_NRREF (cf OP_NCREF), and a value of |
| zero for "the whole pattern". For a DEFINE condition, just the single byte | zero for "the whole pattern". For a DEFINE condition, just the single unit |
| OP_DEF is used (it has no associated data). Otherwise, a conditional subpattern |
OP_DEF is used (it has no associated data). Otherwise, a conditional subpattern |
| always starts with one of the assertions. |
always starts with one of the assertions. |
| |
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Line 442 are not strictly a recursion.
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Line 462 are not strictly a recursion.
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| Callout |
Callout |
| ------- |
------- |
| |
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| OP_CALLOUT is followed by one byte of data that holds a callout number in the | OP_CALLOUT is followed by one unit of data that holds a callout number in the |
| range 0 to 254 for manual callouts, or 255 for an automatic callout. In both |
range 0 to 254 for manual callouts, or 255 for an automatic callout. In both |
| cases there follows a two-byte value giving the offset in the pattern to the | cases there follows a two-byte (one short) value giving the offset in the |
| start of the following item, and another two-byte item giving the length of the | pattern to the start of the following item, and another two-byte (one short) |
| next item. | item giving the length of the next item. |
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| Philip Hazel |
Philip Hazel |
| October 2011 | February 2012 |