$ perl -Mre=debug -le "print qr/\d/" Compiling REx "\d" Final program: 1: DIGIT (2) 2: END (0) stclass DIGIT minlen 1 (?^:\d) Freeing REx: "\d" $ perl -Mre=debug -le "print qr/\d/u" Compiling REx "\d" Final program: 1: DIGIT (2) 2: END (0) stclass DIGIT minlen 1 (?^u:\d) Freeing REx: "\d" $ perl -Mre=debug -le "print qr/\d/a" Compiling REx "\d" Final program: 1: DIGITA (2) 2: END (0) stclass DIGITA minlen 1 (?^a:\d) Freeing REx: "\d" $ perl -Mre=debug -le "print qr/\d/aa" Compiling REx "\d" Final program: 1: DIGITA (2) 2: END (0) stclass DIGITA minlen 1 (?^aa:\d) Freeing REx: "\d"