$phone_number = "(555) 324-1233";

if ($phone_number =~/^[(]?(d{0,3})[)]?[s]?[-]?(d{3})[s]?[-]?(d{4})[s]?[x]?(d*)$/){
#if ($phone_number =~/^(\D*\d{3}?)(\D*\d{3}?)(\D*\d{4}?)(\D*$)/){

    #// we have a match, dump sub-patterns to $matches
    $phone = $1; #// original number
    $area_code = $2;    #// 3-digit area code
    $exchange = $3;     #// 3-digit exchange
    $number = $4;       #// 4-digit number
    $extension = $5;    #// extension
    
    print "**** $phone ** $area_code ** $exchange ** $number ** $extension ***** ";
    
}else{print "no match";}