The 2 comes from the fact that "x*" can match nothing. For "xxxx", "x*" matches the null width "beginning" then matches all the "x"s to the end. The 9 is because of the non-greediness, so you get a match at the null-width beginning, at each character, between each character, and the end.
UPDATE: I ran your original code using "use re 'debug'" and it looks like when you get 2 it is actually matching the "xxxx" and then the end not the beginning.

In reply to Re: Regex (counting) confusion :( by fletcher_the_dog
in thread Regex (counting) confusion :( by snax

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