for my $string ('CN=ext.Group.eso,OU=External,OU=ExDistriGroups,OU=Accounts,DC=eso,DC=local', 'CN=ext.Group.test,OU=External,OU=ExDistriGroups,OU=Accounts,DC=eso,DC=local', 'CN=ext.Group."MY TERM",OU=External,OU=ExDistriGroups,OU=Accounts,DC=eso,DC=local', ) { my ($term) = $string =~ /CN=ext\.Group\.([^,]+)/; print "Found: $term\n"; }