As others have suggested a positive look ahead match ((?=...) is likely to be a key to solving your unspecified problem. We may be able to help better if you let us know what the higher level problem is that you are trying to solve.

Optimising for fewest key strokes only makes sense transmitting to Pluto or beyond

In reply to Re: regex greediness by GrandFather
in thread regex greediness by Danny

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