Using split and pattern matching
while(<DATA>){ @line = split(":", $_); print $line[0],"\n" if $line[1] =~ /408-/ # Using the pattern matching operator } __DATA__ A:111-444-6677:12 Main St. B:222-222-1234:234 main Ln. C:408-567-4444:3456 Mary Way D:555-234-5678:8880 Main St. E:333-444-6556:54 Main Ln. F:444-333-7654:123 4th Ave.