Calling a function from the function itself is called "recursion". It's in fact a loop in disguise, in this case it loops until there is no include element in the replacement part. Each include element calls the function again until there are no such elements, then all the functions return.

Read more on recursion.

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In reply to Re: Recursively executed function in regex RHS, AKA "wait, why does this work?" by choroba
in thread Recursively executed function in regex RHS, AKA "wait, why does this work?" by Cody Fendant

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