#!/usr/bin/env perl -l

use strict;
use warnings;

my $string = 'abc|def';

if ($string =~ /(\S{3})\|(\S{3})/) {
    print "After first match (in if condition): \$1=$1 \$2=$2";
    my $whatever = 'blah';
    $whatever =~ s/b/c/;
    print "After second match (in substitution): \$1=$1 \$2=$2";
}