=over =item $MATCH =item $& X<$&> X<$MATCH> The string matched by the last successful pattern match (not counting any matches hidden within a BLOCK or C enclosed by the current BLOCK). See L above for the serious performance implications of using this variable (even once) in your code. This variable is read-only and dynamically-scoped. Mnemonic: like C<&> in some editors. =back