One of the constructs of perl that continues to confuse me is the /x modifier for regexes. I understand what it does and how it works. What I don't understand is how other people find the resulting constructs _easier_ to read. I certainly don't.

I don't think this is a "thinking like a programmer" issue, because the regex is every bit as cryptic. Adding comments helps decode what a section does, but breaking up the regexp makes it harder to see how the different parts relate to one another.

So I'm asking:

1. Do you find /x regexes easier to read/understand, or harder?
2. Does this "ease of reading" change one way or the other as you gain experience with regexes?
3. What kinds of rules should be followed when using /x to ensure the best readability?

I understand that it will always be different from person to person, but I'm looking for general reactions.

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