I am trying to see if $y starts with $x, but $y sometimes contains regex special characters ...

Then you have no problem - your current regex is fine. It is only if $x has regex special characters that you need to worry.

If $x is just a literal string rather than a regular expression per se, consider using index instead. Less error-prone and (usually) faster too.

In reply to Re: Regex on a variable with special characters by hippo
in thread Regex on a variable with special characters by jaydee

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