Correct, really, @- and @+ do not impose the performance penalties incurred with $', $&, and $`. Think of the @- and @+ variables as simply keeping track of where something was seen, whereas the 'match' variables keep copies of what was seen. It's quicker to bookmark page nine than it is to memorize it. ;) (ok, that's a bit of a simplistic exaggeration, but it should get the idea across)