$ perl -MData::Dumper -we'$Data::Dumper::Useqq = 1; ($x = "fou") =~ /.(..)/g; print Dumper $1; $x = "b"; print Dumper $1; ' $VAR1 = "ou"; $VAR1 = "\0u"; $ perl -MData::Dumper -we'$Data::Dumper::Useqq = 1; ($x = "fou") =~ /.(..)/g; print Dumper $1; $x = "ba"; print Dumper $1; ' $VAR1 = "ou"; $VAR1 = "a\0";