All POSIX compatible regex engines do the same. It's somewhat linked to why POSIX regexes don't have non-greedy operators. But DFAs can implement the preferenc

All POSIX compatible regex engines do the same. It's somewhat linked to why POSIX regexes don't have non-greedy operators. But DFAs can implement the preference-order semantics found in backtracking regex engines too. Russ Cox's articles show how to do that. (Just adding some additional info to your point.)