# .INSTRR() > [HTML Version](instrr().htm) **.INSTRR (spos, string, pattern)** .INSTRR() is similar to [INSTR()](instr().htm.md) except it searches in reverse—e.g. it searches the string for the pattern, starting at the specified _spos_ and working backwards towards the beginning of the string. The return value is the position of the last match—i.e. first match working backwards, with 1 indicating the first character of the string and 0 indicating no match. Unlike INSTR(), .INSTRR() supports both positive and negative starting positions, with negative values counting from the end of the string—e.g. -1 starts the search at the end of the string. However the return value is always >= 0—i.e. position starting from the beginning of the string. Also unlike INSTR(), ..INSTRR() does not support the 4th argument used for regular expression searches. **See Also** • [INSTR()](instr().htm.md) • [NFIND](keyword-types.htm.md)[XS](keyword-types.htm.md) **History** 2016 September, A-Shell 6.3.1527: Function added to A-Shell.