$_ = "abffdeabggfrabhhjuab";
my $matches =()= m/ab/g;
print $matches; # 4

[download]

See Perl Idioms Explained - my $count = () = /.../g for an explanation of =()=, the operator-that-shall-not-be-named :)

Update: Removed superfluous brackets from regexp & added a linky

In reply to Re: counting matches in a line by FunkyMonk
in thread counting matches in a line by halfcountplus

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