macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install pcre2local Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 11
Install pcre2 with Homebrew, apk, dnf, Nix, pacman, apt, zypper, scoop
Perl compatible regular expressions library with a new API. Version 10.49 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-29. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install libpcre2-16-0.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add pcre2Alpine Linux edge package indexes · pcre2 · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install pcre2Fedora Rawhide package metadata · pcre2 · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#pcre2nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pc/pcre2/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S pcre2Arch Linux sync databases · pcre2 · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libpcre2-16-0Debian stable package indexes · libpcre2-16-0 · source: deb.debian.org
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libpcre2-16-0openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libpcre2-16-0 · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/pcre2grepScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/pcre2grep.json · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Perl compatible regular expressions library with a new API
Project links
Commands and aliases
- pcre2-config
- pcre2grep
- pcre2test
history
Project history and usage
PCRE2 is the maintained Perl-Compatible Regular Expressions library, providing C APIs for pattern compilation and matching, Unicode support, multiple code-unit widths, and optional JIT compilation.
Project history
PCRE2 was created after nearly two decades of the original API made further development difficult. The redesign introduced a more extensible interface, automatic optimization, refactored internals, and new functionality under distinct pcre2-prefixed APIs.
The first PCRE2 release established a successor line rather than a drop-in replacement. The original library is now obsolete, while PCRE2 continues as the maintained project.
Adoption history
PCRE2 became the maintained PCRE generation for applications and language bindings needing Perl-compatible matching without embedding Perl. Separate library names allow it to coexist with legacy PCRE during migrations.
Its self-contained, permissively licensed implementation is consumed directly by software and indirectly through runtimes, bindings, and command-line tools.
How it is used
Developers link libpcre2-8, libpcre2-16, or libpcre2-32 according to the required code-unit width and use the compile and match APIs.
pcre2grep supplies command-line searching, pcre2test supports pattern experiments and diagnostics, and pcre2-config reports build settings.
PCRE2 has no documented runtime configuration or credentials file; Unicode, JIT, and related capabilities are primarily build-time features controlled through APIs at runtime.
Why package nerds care
PCRE2 is a foundational library in many dependency graphs. Maintainers care about its distinct 8-, 16-, and 32-bit code-unit libraries, optional Unicode and JIT features, and its deliberate ABI break from PCRE1.
The pcre2grep and pcre2test utilities also make the package useful outside compiled applications for searching, experimentation, and diagnostics.
Timeline
- 2015: PCRE2 10.00 introduced the redesigned API generation.
- 2021: The original PCRE line reached its final release, leaving PCRE2 as the maintained generation.
Related projects
- PCRE1 is the compatibility predecessor; migration requires source changes because PCRE2 exposes a redesigned API.
- Perl remains the principal syntax and semantics reference for PCRE2's regular-expression behavior.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 5 platform targets.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
pcre2-config | cli | global executable | |
pcre2grep | cli | global executable | |
pcre2test | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-11-04
manager version10.49
manager updated2026-09-29
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2
- infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:pcre2 |
|---|---|
| Version | 10.49 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pcre2 |
| Homepage | https://www.pcre.org/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2 |
| Upstream docs | https://www.pcre.org/ |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2/releases/download/pcre2-10.49/pcre2-10.49.tar.bz2 |
| Last updated | 2026-09-29T02:35:55Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Uses from macOS | bzip2 |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_golden_gate, arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_tahoe, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | pcre2 |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
libpcre2-16-0 10.46-1~deb13u1
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - 16 bit runtime files
https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2
sudo apt install libpcre2-16-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Debian apt95%
libpcre2-32-0 10.46-1~deb13u1
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - 32 bit runtime files
https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2
sudo apt install libpcre2-32-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Debian apt95%
libpcre2-8-0 10.46-1~deb13u1
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library- 8 bit runtime files
https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2
sudo apt install libpcre2-8-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Debian apt95%
libpcre2-dev 10.46-1~deb13u1
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - development files
https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2
sudo apt install libpcre2-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Debian apt95%
libpcre2-posix3 10.46-1~deb13u1
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - posix-compatible runtime files
https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2
sudo apt install libpcre2-posix3- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Debian apt95%
pcre2-utils 10.46-1~deb13u1
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - utilities
https://github.com/PCRE2Project/pcre2
sudo apt install pcre2-utils- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Nix95%
pcre2
nix profile install nixpkgs#pcre2- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Ubuntu apt95%
libpcre2-16-0 10.42-4ubuntu2
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - 16 bit runtime files
sudo apt install libpcre2-16-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Ubuntu apt95%
libpcre2-32-0 10.42-4ubuntu2
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - 32 bit runtime files
sudo apt install libpcre2-32-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Ubuntu apt95%
libpcre2-8-0 10.42-4ubuntu2
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library- 8 bit runtime files
sudo apt install libpcre2-8-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Ubuntu apt95%
libpcre2-dev 10.42-4ubuntu2
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - development files
sudo apt install libpcre2-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Ubuntu apt95%
libpcre2-posix3 10.42-4ubuntu2
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - posix-compatible runtime files
sudo apt install libpcre2-posix3- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
Ubuntu apt95%
pcre2-utils 10.42-4ubuntu2
New Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library - utilities
sudo apt install pcre2-utils- Section: universe/utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 5 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
apk95%
libpcre2-16 10.47-r1
PCRE2 with 16 bit character support
sudo apk add libpcre2-16- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
apk95%
libpcre2-32 10.47-r1
PCRE2 with 32 bit character support
sudo apk add libpcre2-32- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
apk95%
pcre2 10.47-r1
Perl-compatible regular expression library
sudo apk add pcre2- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: pcre2
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pcre2
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation