qr/(?:$QUOTED|$NUM)(??{'' eq $& || '.' eq $& ? FAIL : SUCCEED})/ __END__ $VAR1 = [ 'name => ', '"foo"', ', fav.num => ', '3' ]; #### $VAR1 = [ 'name => ', '"foo"', ', fav', '', '.num => ', '3' ]; #### my $VALUE = do { use re 'eval'; qr/($QUOTED|$NUM)(??{'' eq $+ || '.' eq $+ ? FAIL : SUCCEED})/; }; my $text = 'name => "foo", fav.num => 3'; my @text = split /$VALUE/ => $text; __END__ $VAR1 = [ 'name => ', '"foo"', ', fav.num => ', '3' ]; #### my $VALUE = do { use re 'eval'; qr/$NUM(?{ print "($`)($&)($')\n" })(?!)/; }; my $text = 'name => 5, fav.num => 3'; $text =~ /$VALUE/; __END__ (name => )(5)(, fav.num => 3) (name => )()(5, fav.num => 3) (name => 5, fav)(.)(num => 3) (name => 5, fav)()(.num => 3) (name => 5, fav.num => )(3)() (name => 5, fav.num => )()(3)