(gawk.info)Pattern Overview

Pattern Elements
================

   Patterns in `awk' control the execution of rules: a rule is executed
when its pattern matches the current input record.  This section
explains all about how to write patterns.



* Kinds of Patterns
A list of all kinds of patterns.
* Regexp Patterns
Using regexps as patterns.
* Expression Patterns
Any expression can be used as a pattern.
* Ranges
Pairs of patterns specify record ranges.
* BEGIN/END
Specifying initialization and cleanup rules.
* Empty
The empty pattern, which matches every record.