Document better what is allowed as regex delimiters

Identifier characters are allowed. Also add a test

diff --git a/pod/perlop.pod b/pod/perlop.pod
index 1df9fcb..adf0718 100644 (file)
--- a/pod/perlop.pod
+++ b/pod/perlop.pod
@@ -1152,11 +1152,13 @@ process modifiers are available:
     c  Do not reset search position on a failed match when /g is in effect.
 
 If "/" is the delimiter then the initial C<m> is optional.  With the C<m>
-you can use any pair of non-alphanumeric, non-whitespace characters
+you can use any pair of non-whitespace characters
 as delimiters.  This is particularly useful for matching path names
 that contain "/", to avoid LTS (leaning toothpick syndrome).  If "?" is
 the delimiter, then the match-only-once rule of C<?PATTERN?> applies.
 If "'" is the delimiter, no interpolation is performed on the PATTERN.
+When using a character valid in an identifier, whitespace is required
+after the C<m>.
 
 PATTERN may contain variables, which will be interpolated (and the
 pattern recompiled) every time the pattern search is evaluated, except
@@ -1366,13 +1368,13 @@ specific options:
     e  Evaluate the right side as an expression.
     ee  Evaluate the right side as a string then eval the result
 
-Any non-alphanumeric, non-whitespace delimiter may replace the
-slashes.  If single quotes are used, no interpretation is done on the
-replacement string (the C</e> modifier overrides this, however).  Unlike
-Perl 4, Perl 5 treats backticks as normal delimiters; the replacement
-text is not evaluated as a command.  If the
-PATTERN is delimited by bracketing quotes, the REPLACEMENT has its own
-pair of quotes, which may or may not be bracketing quotes, e.g.,
+Any non-whitespace delimiter may replace the slashes.  Add space after
+the C<s> when using a character allowed in identifiers.  If single quotes
+are used, no interpretation is done on the replacement string (the C</e>
+modifier overrides this, however).  Unlike Perl 4, Perl 5 treats backticks
+as normal delimiters; the replacement text is not evaluated as a command.
+If the PATTERN is delimited by bracketing quotes, the REPLACEMENT has
+its own pair of quotes, which may or may not be bracketing quotes, e.g.,
 C<s(foo)(bar)> or C<< s<foo>/bar/ >>.  A C</e> will cause the
 replacement portion to be treated as a full-fledged Perl expression
 and evaluated right then and there.  It is, however, syntax checked at

diff --git a/t/op/subst.t b/t/op/subst.t
index 06c04e8..30af8a2 100644 (file)
--- a/t/op/subst.t
+++ b/t/op/subst.t
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ BEGIN {
 }
 
 require './test.pl';
-plan( tests => 139 );
+plan( tests => 140 );
 
 $x = 'foo';
 $_ = "x";
@@ -263,6 +263,9 @@ eval 's{foo} # this is a comment, not a delimiter
        {bar};';
 ok( ! @?, 'parsing of split subst with comment' );
 
+$snum = eval '$_="exactly"; s sxsys;m 3(yactl)3;$1';
+is( $snum, 'yactl', 'alpha delimiters are allowed' );
+
 $_="baacbaa";
 $snum = tr/a/b/s;
 ok( $_ eq "bbcbb" && $snum == 4,