perl - Regex to capture everything inside ( ... ) but also handle cases where ( is used inside -

i trying capture using perl regex data found inside this:

variable_myname(variable_data);

so used:

variable_([a-za-z_]+)(\s+)?\((.*?)\)

this allowed me capture myname of variable (which prefixed variable_) data inside (...).

however, doesn't work if user uses (allowed) syntax of:

variable_oneexp("this value ( ... ) ");

which because of ", ( , ) should ignored.

same behavior should handled if ' used:

variable_twoexp('this value ( ... ) ');

finally, behavior should supported:

variable_threeexp('this value ' + ' string ');

though, don't think last example makes difference regex.

some pointers/assistance appreciated.

you use negated class instead of lazy .*?, use alternation match between single/double quotes:

variable_([a-za-z_]+)\s*\(((?:'[^']+'|"[^"]+"|[^()])+)\)

i removed capture group around \s+, , turned \s* since don't believe need spaces in capture group. revert if need it.

Silver