You might try something more like this:

if ($line =~ /^\s*public(*.);\s*$/) {
  # do something
}

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The use of anchors (^ and $) at the beginning and end of your pattern will ensure that nothing (except some optional space characters) will appear before the 'public' or after the ';'. You may be able to adapt this to your needs.


No good deed goes unpunished. -- (attributed to) Oscar Wilde

In reply to Re: avoiding a particular character or set of characters by ptum
in thread avoiding a particular character or set of characters by neeha

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