my $contents = do { local $/; }; while ($contents =~ / \s* ([^=\s]+) \s* = \s* ( (?: (?! \s* (?: [^=\s]+ \s* = | $ ) ) . )* ) /xmsg ) { print("[$1 => $2]\n"); } __DATA__ name1=value1 name2 = value2 name3 = value3 but wait, there is more name4= value4 #### [name1 => value1] [name2 => value2] [name3 => value3] [name4 => value4] #### my $contents = do { local $/; }; while ($contents =~ / \s* ([^=\s]+) \s* = \s* (.*?) # Extend the value. (?= \s* (?: [^=\s]+ \s* = | $ ) ) /xmsg ) { print("[$1 => $2]\n"); }