$_ = "foo bar foo"; $pat1 = "(foo)"; $pat2 = "(bar)"; /$pat1/ && /$pat2/; # Sets $1 (twice). /^(?=.*?$pat1)(?=.*?$pat2)/; # Sets $1 and $2. $pat1 = "(foo)"; $pat2 = "(baz)"; /$pat1/ && /$pat2/; # Sets $1. /^(?=.*?$pat1)(?=.*?$pat2)/; # Doesn't set $1 or $2. $pat1 = "(foo)"; $pat2 = "( )\\g{1}"; /$pat1/ && /$pat2/; # No match. /^(?=.*?$pat1)(?=.*?$pat2)/; # Match!