Single objects

A pattern consists of single objects. Single objects can be one of the following objects:

• A single character that has no special meaning.
• An entire string enclosed by double quotes as in "string".
• A group of characters enclosed by straight braces.
• The contents of a pair of regular parentheses.
• A linefeed.

Parentheses can be nested as in

    //a("bc"(de)f)/

Here the single objects d and e are taken together to form a single object on a lower level. The string "bc" is a single object that should match the characters b followed by c. The objects "bc" (de) and f are then combined to form one single element on the lowest level. The whole pattern consists of this object with an a to the left of it. All operators act on single objects.