---
name: "Regexp::Common::URI::gopher"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-regexp-common"
version: "2024080801-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Regexp::Common::URI::gopher"
---

# Regexp::Common::URI::gopher(3pm)

## NAME

Regexp::Common::URI::gopher -- Returns a pattern for gopher URIs.

## SYNOPSIS

```
    use Regexp::Common qw /URI/;
    while (<>) {
        /$RE{URI}{gopher}/       and  print "Contains a gopher URI.\n";
    }
```

## DESCRIPTION

### $RE{URI}{gopher}{-notab}

Gopher URIs are poorly defined. Originally, RFC 1738 defined gopher URIs, but they were later redefined in an internet draft. One that was expired in June 1997.

The internet draft for gopher URIs defines them as follows:

```
    "gopher:" "//" host [ ":" port ] "/" gopher-type selector
                        [ "%09" search [ "%09" gopherplus_string ]]
```

Unfortunally, a *selector* is defined in such a way that characters may be escaped using the URI escape mechanism. This includes tabs, which escaped are `%09`. Hence, the syntax cannot distinguish between a URI that has both a *selector* and a *search* part, and an URI where the *selector* includes an escaped tab. (The text of the draft forbids tabs to be present in the *selector* though).

`"$RE{URI}{gopher}"` follows the defined syntax. To disallow escaped tabs in the *selector* and *search* parts, use `"$RE{URI}{gopher}{-notab}"`.

There are other differences between the text and the given syntax. According to the text, selector strings cannot have tabs, linefeeds or carriage returns in them. The text also allows the entire *gopher-path*, (the part after the slash following the hostport) to be empty; if this is empty the slash may be omitted as well. However, this isn't reflected in the syntax.

Under `"{-keep}"`, the following are returned:

- $1

  The entire URI.

- $2

  The scheme.

- $3

  The host (name or address).

- $4

  The port (if any).

- $5

  The "gopher-path", the part after the / following the host and port.

- $6

  The gopher-type.

- $7

  The selector. (When no `"{-notab}"` is used, this includes the search and gopherplus\_string, including the separating escaped tabs).

- $8

  The search, if given. (Only when `"{-notab}"` is given).

- $9

  The gopherplus\_string, if given. (Only when `"{-notab}"` is given).

head1 REFERENCES

- **\[RFC 1738\]**

  Berners-Lee, Tim, Masinter, L., McCahill, M.: *Uniform Resource* *Locators (URL)*. December 1994.

- **\[RFC 1808\]**

  Fielding, R.: *Relative Uniform Resource Locators (URL)*. June 1995.

- **\[GOPHER URL\]**

  Krishnan, Murali R., Casey, James: "A Gopher URL Format". Expired Internet draft *draft-murali-url-gopher*. December 1996.

## SEE ALSO

Regexp::Common::URI for other supported URIs.

## AUTHOR

Damian Conway (damian@conway.org)

## MAINTENANCE

This package is maintained by Abigail (*regexp-common@abigail.freedom.nl*).

## BUGS AND IRRITATIONS

Bound to be plenty.

## LICENSE and COPYRIGHT

This software is Copyright (c) 2001 - 2024, Damian Conway and Abigail.

This module is free software, and maybe used under any of the following licenses:

```
 1) The Perl Artistic License.     See the file COPYRIGHT.AL.
 2) The Perl Artistic License 2.0. See the file COPYRIGHT.AL2.
 3) The BSD License.               See the file COPYRIGHT.BSD.
 4) The MIT License.               See the file COPYRIGHT.MIT.
```