This is not a correct conclusion or suggestion. Take a look at your code again:

[] is used to define a character class, not a regular expression grouping. The statement above reads: "at least one character not found in $str." The reason your test code did not show you this is because you were matching:

Or, simplified:

Since every character in the string "SCALAR" is "not T", every character is replaced with HOO. The original request was for a method of implementing !// using only //.

Please put a little more thought into your response... Cheers...