No, this is simply a long-standing bug in the implementation of captures. $1 remaining unchanged is supposed to happen if the entire regex fails to match.

When the regex backtracks over a completed capture, it needs to clear out that previously filled-in capture. Please 'perlbug' it.

- tye        

In reply to Re^2: Leaking Regex Captures (bug!) by tye
in thread Leaking Regex Captures by SuicideJunkie

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