quare brackets, and those that are recognised in square brackets. Outside square brackets, the meta-characters are as follows:</P>

<TABLE cols=2 width=335>

<TR VALIGN="top">
<TD width=8%>\</TD>
<TD width=92%>general escape character with several uses</TD>
</TR>

<TR VALIGN="top">
<TD width=8%>^</TD>
<TD width=92%>assert start of subject (or line, in multiline mode)</TD>
</TR>

<TR VALIGN="top">
<TD width=8%>$</TD>
<TD width=92%>assert end of subject (or line, in multiline mode)</TD>
</TR>