BackslashInRegexp

Because "\\$" is a string and /\\$/ is not; in strings, some of the escape characters get eaten up (like \" to escape a double-quote within the string).

/\\$/ => regular expression:  literal backslash at end-of-expression
"\\$" => string: \$ => regular expression:  literal dollar sign

To get behavior like the first case in a string, use "\\\\$" .

There are other, less obvious characters which need the same attention; under-quoting or over-quoting should be avoided:

• Parentheses are special for alternation:

/\(test\)/ => 6 characters `(test)'
"\(test\)" => /(test)/ => 4 characters `test' (with unused grouping)

An example of trying to match some diagonal compass directions:

/(N|S)(E|W)/ => `NE' or `NW' or `SE' or `SW' (correct)
"(N|S)(E|W)" => /(N|S)(E|W)/ (correct)
"\(N|S\)\(E|W\)" => /(N|S)(E|W)/ (correct) (NOTE:  all \ had no effect)
"\(N\|S\)\(E\|W\)" => /(N|S)(E|W)/ (correct) (NOTE:  all \ had no effect)

• Expressions that look similar but behave totally differently:

/\(N|S\)\(E|W\)/ => `(N' or `S)(E' or `W)'
/\(N\|S\)\(E\|W\)/ => `(N|S)(E|W)' only

There is also confusion regarding different forms of special characters; POSIX requires that `\052' be treated as any other `*', even though it is written with 4 bytes instead of 1. In compatibility mode, gawk will treat it as though it were escaped , namely `\*'.