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  • On what system does re_format(7) document "potential features"? Commented Mar 2, 2023 at 20:33
  • @Kusalananda hmmm you're right. Good question. So I was just referring to the manual on my system (macOS 13.2) currently which is dated Sept 29, 2011. It is documented under Minimal Repetitions (available for enhanced extended REs only) under ENHANCED FEATURES. See here or here. It seems that the one provided with macOS is outdated and rather unique? Commented Mar 2, 2023 at 21:23
  • Ah, yes. The macOS regular expression library seems to implement these expressions, but they are unavailable with sed on that platform. I would classify this as "rather unique" and specific for the macOS system. I'm not sure what utilities on macOS actually use this. Possibly the native Perl. Commented Mar 2, 2023 at 21:36