http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=616698


in reply to Re^2: Strange regex to test for newlines: /.*\z/
in thread Strange regex to test for newlines: /.*\z/

Indeed. Quoting and a bit paraphrasing "Mastering Regular Expressions 2nd Edition":
A match mode can change the meaning of "$" to match before any embedde +d newline (or Unicode line terminator as well). When supported, "\Z" +usually matches what the "unmoded" "$" matches, which often means to +match at the end of the string, or before a string-ending newline. To + complement these, "\z" matches only at the end of the string, period +, without regard to any newline. .. //s stands for Single Line Mode which makes the dot match any characte +r. .. //m stands for Multi Line Mode which changes how ^& $ are considered b +y the regex engine. ^ is then begin of 1 line out of the many lines i +n the string and not begin of string and $ is end of 1 line out of th +e many lines in the string and not end of string. .. Caret "^" matches at the beginning of the text being searched, and, if + in an enhanced line-anchor match mode after any newline. .. \A always matches only at the start of the text being searched, regard +less of single or multi line match mode. .. "\Z" matches what the "unmoded" "$" matches, which means to match at t +he end of the string, or before a string-ending newline. To complemen +t these, "\z" matches only at the end of the string, period, without +regard to any newline.
With thanks to Jeffrey Friedl's Regex Holy Book! ;-)