(?-imsx:\(([^\(]*?)\)) matches as follows: NODE EXPLANATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (?-imsx: group, but do not capture (case-sensitive) (with ^ and $ matching normally) (with . not matching \n) (matching whitespace and # normally): ---------------------------------------------------------------------- \( '(' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ( group and capture to \1: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [^\(]*? any character except: '\(' (0 or more times (matching the least amount possible)) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ) end of \1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- \) ')' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ) end of grouping ----------------------------------------------------------------------