$s = 'aaaaaaaaa';
$s =~ /.+(a+)/;    # greedy match
print "$1\n";      # prints "a" (a single 'a')
        
$s = 'aaaaaaaaa';
$s =~ /.+?(a+)/;   # non-greedy match
print "$1\n";      # prints "aaaaaaaa" (all the 'a's)

##</code><code>##

$text =~ /$mm\/$dd\/$yy/;   # works, but ugly
$text =~ m|$mm/$dd/$yy|;    # use different delimiter
$text =~ m| $mm            # month
            /
            $dd            # day
            /
            $yy            # year
          |x;              # allow whitespace