diff --git a/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Printf.qll b/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Printf.qll
index 703c4dd2879e..71a31d03aac1 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Printf.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Printf.qll
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ class FormatLiteral extends Literal {
 
   private Type getConversionType1(int n) {
     exists(string cnv | cnv = this.getConversionChar(n) |
-      cnv.regexpMatch("d|i") and
+      cnv = ["d", "i"] and
       result = this.getIntegralConversion(n) and
       not result.getUnderlyingType().(IntegralType).isExplicitlySigned() and
       not result.getUnderlyingType().(IntegralType).isExplicitlyUnsigned()
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ class FormatLiteral extends Literal {
 
   private Type getConversionType2(int n) {
     exists(string cnv | cnv = this.getConversionChar(n) |
-      cnv.regexpMatch("o|u|x|X") and
+      cnv = ["o", "u", "x", "X"] and
       result = this.getIntegralConversion(n) and
       result.getUnderlyingType().(IntegralType).isUnsigned()
     )
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ class FormatLiteral extends Literal {
 
   private Type getConversionType3(int n) {
     exists(string cnv | cnv = this.getConversionChar(n) |
-      cnv.regexpMatch("a|A|e|E|f|F|g|G") and result = this.getFloatingPointConversion(n)
+      cnv = ["a", "A", "e", "E", "f", "F", "g", "G"] and result = this.getFloatingPointConversion(n)
     )
   }
 
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Conversion/LossyFunctionResultCast.ql b/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Conversion/LossyFunctionResultCast.ql
index 2a8aba6a9610..dee723e26867 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Conversion/LossyFunctionResultCast.ql	
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/Conversion/LossyFunctionResultCast.ql	
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ predicate whitelist(Function f) {
       "nearbyintl", "rint", "rintf", "rintl", "round", "roundf", "roundl", "trunc", "truncf",
       "truncl"
     ] or
-  f.getName().matches("__builtin_%")
+  f.getName().matches("\\_\\_builtin\\_%")
 }
 
 predicate whitelistPow(FunctionCall fc) {
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-266/IncorrectPrivilegeAssignment.ql b/cpp/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-266/IncorrectPrivilegeAssignment.ql
index 8411d0ba2e21..5bdd5a21fe52 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-266/IncorrectPrivilegeAssignment.ql
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-266/IncorrectPrivilegeAssignment.ql
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ where
       // unfortunately cannot use numeric value here because // O_CREAT is defined differently on different OSes:
       // https://github.com/red/red/blob/92feb0c0d5f91e087ab35fface6906afbf99b603/runtime/definitions.reds#L477-L491
       // this may introduce false negatives
-      fctmp.getArgument(1).(BitwiseOrExpr).getAChild*().getValueText().matches("O_CREAT") or
+      fctmp.getArgument(1).(BitwiseOrExpr).getAChild*().getValueText() = "O_CREAT" or
       fctmp.getArgument(1).getValueText().matches("%O_CREAT%")
     ) and
     fctmp.getNumberOfArguments() = 2 and
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 23.ql b/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 23.ql
index 9bb63cb6b29b..ff4b1baec76e 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 23.ql	
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 23.ql	
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import cpp
 
 from Function f
 where
-  f.getName().regexpMatch("atof|atoi|atol") and
+  f.getName() = ["atof", "atoi", "atol"] and
   f.getFile().getAbsolutePath().matches("%stdlib.h")
 select f.getACallToThisFunction(),
   "AV Rule 23: The library functions atof, atoi and atol from library <stdlib.h> shall not be used."
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 24.ql b/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 24.ql
index 9e0fd1d5de8f..3bf27d8121c2 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 24.ql	
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/jsf/4.05 Libraries/AV Rule 24.ql	
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import cpp
 
 from Function f
 where
-  f.getName().regexpMatch("abort|exit|getenv|system") and
+  f.getName() = ["abort", "exit", "getenv", "system"] and
   f.getFile().getAbsolutePath().matches("%stdlib.h")
 select f.getACallToThisFunction(),
   "The library functions abort, exit, getenv and system from library <stdlib.h> should not be used."
diff --git a/csharp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/LeapYear/UnsafeYearConstruction.ql b/csharp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/LeapYear/UnsafeYearConstruction.ql
index fe0c5707742f..838406ab82e9 100644
--- a/csharp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/LeapYear/UnsafeYearConstruction.ql	
+++ b/csharp/ql/src/Likely Bugs/LeapYear/UnsafeYearConstruction.ql	
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class UnsafeYearCreationFromArithmeticConfiguration extends TaintTracking::Confi
   override predicate isSource(DataFlow::Node source) {
     exists(ArithmeticOperation ao, PropertyAccess pa | ao = source.asExpr() |
       pa = ao.getAChild*() and
-      pa.getProperty().getQualifiedName().matches("System.DateTime.Year")
+      pa.getProperty().hasQualifiedName("System.DateTime.Year")
     )
   }
 
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Collections.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Collections.qll
index 7e39aa6d704e..05e8ffbe7e4a 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Collections.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Collections.qll
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class CollectionMutation extends MethodAccess {
 /** A method that queries the contents of a collection without mutating it. */
 class CollectionQueryMethod extends CollectionMethod {
   CollectionQueryMethod() {
-    pragma[only_bind_into](this).getName().regexpMatch("contains|containsAll|get|size|peek")
+    pragma[only_bind_into](this).getName() = ["contains", "containsAll", "get", "size", "peek"]
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Maps.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Maps.qll
index 6b9374bfc141..1157cb76f5c5 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Maps.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Maps.qll
@@ -59,9 +59,8 @@ class MapMutation extends MethodAccess {
 /** A method that queries the contents of the map it belongs to without mutating it. */
 class MapQueryMethod extends MapMethod {
   MapQueryMethod() {
-    pragma[only_bind_into](this)
-        .getName()
-        .regexpMatch("get|containsKey|containsValue|entrySet|keySet|values|isEmpty|size")
+    pragma[only_bind_into](this).getName() =
+      ["get", "containsKey", "containsValue", "entrySet", "keySet", "values", "isEmpty", "size"]
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Type.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Type.qll
index a421bbc3eb7e..a37f9810c442 100755
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Type.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/Type.qll
@@ -1002,7 +1002,9 @@ class FunctionalInterface extends Interface {
  * and `double`.
  */
 class PrimitiveType extends Type, @primitive {
-  PrimitiveType() { this.getName().regexpMatch("float|double|int|boolean|short|byte|char|long") }
+  PrimitiveType() {
+    this.getName() = ["float", "double", "int", "boolean", "short", "byte", "char", "long"]
+  }
 
   /** Gets the boxed type corresponding to this primitive type. */
   BoxedType getBoxedType() { result.getPrimitiveType() = this }
@@ -1217,9 +1219,9 @@ predicate erasedHaveIntersection(RefType t1, RefType t2) {
 class IntegralType extends Type {
   IntegralType() {
     exists(string name |
-      name = this.(PrimitiveType).getName() or name = this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()
+      name = [this.(PrimitiveType).getName(), this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()]
     |
-      name.regexpMatch("byte|char|short|int|long")
+      name = ["byte", "char", "short", "int", "long"]
     )
   }
 }
@@ -1228,7 +1230,7 @@ class IntegralType extends Type {
 class BooleanType extends Type {
   BooleanType() {
     exists(string name |
-      name = this.(PrimitiveType).getName() or name = this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()
+      name = [this.(PrimitiveType).getName(), this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()]
     |
       name = "boolean"
     )
@@ -1239,7 +1241,7 @@ class BooleanType extends Type {
 class CharacterType extends Type {
   CharacterType() {
     exists(string name |
-      name = this.(PrimitiveType).getName() or name = this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()
+      name = [this.(PrimitiveType).getName(), this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()]
     |
       name = "char"
     )
@@ -1250,10 +1252,9 @@ class CharacterType extends Type {
 class NumericType extends Type {
   NumericType() {
     exists(string name |
-      name = this.(PrimitiveType).getName() or
-      name = this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()
+      name = [this.(PrimitiveType).getName(), this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()]
     |
-      name.regexpMatch("byte|short|int|long|double|float")
+      name = ["byte", "short", "int", "long", "double", "float"]
     )
   }
 }
@@ -1262,9 +1263,9 @@ class NumericType extends Type {
 class NumericOrCharType extends Type {
   NumericOrCharType() {
     exists(string name |
-      name = this.(PrimitiveType).getName() or name = this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()
+      name = [this.(PrimitiveType).getName(), this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()]
     |
-      name.regexpMatch("byte|char|short|int|long|double|float")
+      name = ["byte", "char", "short", "int", "long", "double", "float"]
     )
   }
 }
@@ -1273,9 +1274,9 @@ class NumericOrCharType extends Type {
 class FloatingPointType extends Type {
   FloatingPointType() {
     exists(string name |
-      name = this.(PrimitiveType).getName() or name = this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()
+      name = [this.(PrimitiveType).getName(), this.(BoxedType).getPrimitiveType().getName()]
     |
-      name.regexpMatch("float|double")
+      name = ["float", "double"]
     )
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/RangeAnalysis.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/RangeAnalysis.qll
index 1046bcc3b83f..a72b3c67b06d 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/RangeAnalysis.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/RangeAnalysis.qll
@@ -337,15 +337,15 @@ private predicate safeCast(Type fromtyp, Type totyp) {
   exists(PrimitiveType pfrom, PrimitiveType pto | pfrom = fromtyp and pto = totyp |
     pfrom = pto
     or
-    pfrom.hasName("char") and pto.getName().regexpMatch("int|long|float|double")
+    pfrom.hasName("char") and pto.hasName(["int", "long", "float", "double"])
     or
-    pfrom.hasName("byte") and pto.getName().regexpMatch("short|int|long|float|double")
+    pfrom.hasName("byte") and pto.hasName(["short", "int", "long", "float", "double"])
     or
-    pfrom.hasName("short") and pto.getName().regexpMatch("int|long|float|double")
+    pfrom.hasName("short") and pto.hasName(["int", "long", "float", "double"])
     or
-    pfrom.hasName("int") and pto.getName().regexpMatch("long|float|double")
+    pfrom.hasName("int") and pto.hasName(["long", "float", "double"])
     or
-    pfrom.hasName("long") and pto.getName().regexpMatch("float|double")
+    pfrom.hasName("long") and pto.hasName(["float", "double"])
     or
     pfrom.hasName("float") and pto.hasName("double")
     or
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/internal/TaintTrackingUtil.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/internal/TaintTrackingUtil.qll
index 6b921a93e6ff..cdb54eca4358 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/internal/TaintTrackingUtil.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/internal/TaintTrackingUtil.qll
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ private predicate localAdditionalTaintUpdateStep(Expr src, Expr sink) {
 
 private class BulkData extends RefType {
   BulkData() {
-    this.(Array).getElementType().(PrimitiveType).getName().regexpMatch("byte|char")
+    this.(Array).getElementType().(PrimitiveType).hasName(["byte", "char"])
     or
     exists(RefType t | this.getASourceSupertype*() = t |
       t.hasQualifiedName("java.io", "InputStream") or
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ private predicate argToMethodStep(Expr tracked, MethodAccess sink) {
   exists(Method springResponseEntityOfOk |
     sink.getMethod() = springResponseEntityOfOk and
     springResponseEntityOfOk.getDeclaringType() instanceof SpringResponseEntity and
-    springResponseEntityOfOk.getName().regexpMatch("ok|of") and
+    springResponseEntityOfOk.hasName(["ok", "of"]) and
     tracked = sink.getArgument(0) and
     tracked.getType() instanceof TypeString
   )
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ private predicate argToMethodStep(Expr tracked, MethodAccess sink) {
   exists(Method springResponseEntityBody |
     sink.getMethod() = springResponseEntityBody and
     springResponseEntityBody.getDeclaringType() instanceof SpringResponseEntityBodyBuilder and
-    springResponseEntityBody.getName().regexpMatch("body") and
+    springResponseEntityBody.hasName("body") and
     tracked = sink.getArgument(0) and
     tracked.getType() instanceof TypeString
   )
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/deadcode/frameworks/FitNesseEntryPoints.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/deadcode/frameworks/FitNesseEntryPoints.qll
index af050ab0da17..85acb57c539a 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/deadcode/frameworks/FitNesseEntryPoints.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/deadcode/frameworks/FitNesseEntryPoints.qll
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class FitFixtureEntryPoint extends CallableEntryPoint {
  * FitNesse entry points externally defined.
  */
 class FitNesseSlimEntryPointData extends ExternalData {
-  FitNesseSlimEntryPointData() { getDataPath().matches("fitnesse.csv") }
+  FitNesseSlimEntryPointData() { getDataPath() = "fitnesse.csv" }
 
   /**
    * Gets the class name.
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/Mockito.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/Mockito.qll
index a87050966b29..af1617600636 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/Mockito.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/Mockito.qll
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class MockitoInitedTest extends Class {
  */
 class MockitoAnnotation extends Annotation {
   MockitoAnnotation() {
-    this.getType().getPackage().getName().matches("org.mockito") or
+    this.getType().getPackage().hasName("org.mockito") or
     this.getType().getPackage().getName().matches("org.mockito.%")
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/android/Slice.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/android/Slice.qll
index e5e782e47e61..ad4f24adcd63 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/android/Slice.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/frameworks/android/Slice.qll
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ private class SliceProviderLifecycleStep extends AdditionalValueStep {
 
 private class SliceActionsInheritTaint extends DataFlow::SyntheticFieldContent,
   TaintInheritingContent {
-  SliceActionsInheritTaint() { this.getField().matches("androidx.slice.Slice.action") }
+  SliceActionsInheritTaint() { this.getField() = "androidx.slice.Slice.action" }
 }
 
 private class SliceBuildersSummaryModels extends SummaryModelCsv {
diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/security/ExternalAPIs.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/security/ExternalAPIs.qll
index b4b8ea7fdd94..1356c152d237 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/security/ExternalAPIs.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/security/ExternalAPIs.qll
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ private class DefaultSafeExternalApiMethod extends SafeExternalApiMethod {
   DefaultSafeExternalApiMethod() {
     this instanceof EqualsMethod
     or
-    this.getName().regexpMatch("size|length|compareTo|getClass|lastIndexOf")
+    this.hasName(["size", "length", "compareTo", "getClass", "lastIndexOf"])
     or
     this.getDeclaringType().hasQualifiedName("org.apache.commons.lang3", "Validate")
     or
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ private class DefaultSafeExternalApiMethod extends SafeExternalApiMethod {
     this.getName() = "isDigit"
     or
     this.getDeclaringType().hasQualifiedName("java.lang", "String") and
-    this.getName().regexpMatch("equalsIgnoreCase|regionMatches")
+    this.hasName(["equalsIgnoreCase", "regionMatches"])
     or
     this.getDeclaringType().hasQualifiedName("java.lang", "Boolean") and
     this.getName() = "parseBoolean"
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ private class DefaultSafeExternalApiMethod extends SafeExternalApiMethod {
     this.getName() = "closeQuietly"
     or
     this.getDeclaringType().hasQualifiedName("org.springframework.util", "StringUtils") and
-    this.getName().regexpMatch("hasText|isEmpty")
+    this.hasName(["hasText", "isEmpty"])
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-470/UnsafeReflectionLib.qll b/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-470/UnsafeReflectionLib.qll
index 803fe6107a12..a111c918555a 100644
--- a/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-470/UnsafeReflectionLib.qll
+++ b/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-470/UnsafeReflectionLib.qll
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ predicate looksLikeResolveClassStep(DataFlow::Node fromNode, DataFlow::Node toNo
     m = ma.getMethod() and arg = ma.getArgument(i)
   |
     m.getReturnType() instanceof TypeClass and
-    m.getName().toLowerCase().regexpMatch("resolve|load|class|type") and
+    m.getName().toLowerCase() = ["resolve", "load", "class", "type"] and
     arg.getType() instanceof TypeString and
     arg = fromNode.asExpr() and
     ma = toNode.asExpr()
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ predicate looksLikeInstantiateClassStep(DataFlow::Node fromNode, DataFlow::Node
     m = ma.getMethod() and arg = ma.getArgument(i)
   |
     m.getReturnType() instanceof TypeObject and
-    m.getName().toLowerCase().regexpMatch("instantiate|instance|create|make|getbean") and
+    m.getName().toLowerCase() = ["instantiate", "instance", "create", "make", "getbean"] and
     arg.getType() instanceof TypeClass and
     arg = fromNode.asExpr() and
     ma = toNode.asExpr()
diff --git a/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-601/SpringUrlRedirect.qll b/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-601/SpringUrlRedirect.qll
index 3791573eb9d1..1aded71c6617 100644
--- a/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-601/SpringUrlRedirect.qll
+++ b/java/ql/src/experimental/Security/CWE/CWE-601/SpringUrlRedirect.qll
@@ -134,6 +134,6 @@ predicate springUrlRedirectTaintStep(DataFlow::Node fromNode, DataFlow::Node toN
 predicate nonLocationHeaderSanitizer(DataFlow::Node node) {
   exists(HttpHeadersAddSetMethodAccess ma, Argument firstArg | node.asExpr() = ma.getArgument(1) |
     firstArg = ma.getArgument(0) and
-    not firstArg.(CompileTimeConstantExpr).getStringValue().matches("Location")
+    not firstArg.(CompileTimeConstantExpr).getStringValue() = "Location"
   )
 }
diff --git a/java/ql/src/utils/model-generator/internal/CaptureModelsSpecific.qll b/java/ql/src/utils/model-generator/internal/CaptureModelsSpecific.qll
index dd7f62fe1330..c8de5b8f7c12 100644
--- a/java/ql/src/utils/model-generator/internal/CaptureModelsSpecific.qll
+++ b/java/ql/src/utils/model-generator/internal/CaptureModelsSpecific.qll
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ string asPartialModel(TargetApiSpecific api) {
 }
 
 private predicate isPrimitiveTypeUsedForBulkData(J::Type t) {
-  t.getName().regexpMatch("byte|char|Byte|Character")
+  t.hasName(["byte", "char", "Byte", "Character"])
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/Expr.qll b/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/Expr.qll
index 9295fbb37579..7db74458bdf6 100644
--- a/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/Expr.qll
+++ b/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/Expr.qll
@@ -2286,9 +2286,7 @@ class ComprehensionExpr extends @comprehension_expr, Expr {
 
   /** Holds if this is a legacy postfix comprehension expression. */
   predicate isPostfix() {
-    exists(Token tk | tk = this.getFirstToken().getNextToken() |
-      not tk.getValue().regexpMatch("if|for")
-    )
+    exists(Token tk | tk = this.getFirstToken().getNextToken() | not tk.getValue() = ["if", "for"])
   }
 
   override string getAPrimaryQlClass() { result = "ComprehensionExpr" }
diff --git a/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/frameworks/xUnit.qll b/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/frameworks/xUnit.qll
index e07bd29b3c32..0b2379dd6b13 100644
--- a/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/frameworks/xUnit.qll
+++ b/javascript/ql/lib/semmle/javascript/frameworks/xUnit.qll
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ private predicate xUnitDetected() {
 private predicate possiblyAttribute(Expr e, string name) {
   exists(Identifier id | id = e or id = e.(CallExpr).getCallee() |
     name = id.getName() and
-    name.regexpMatch("Async|Data|Fact|Fixture|Import|ImportJson|Skip|Trait")
+    name = ["Async", "Data", "Fact", "Fixture", "Import", "ImportJson", "Skip", "Trait"]
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/DeadStoreOfGlobal.ql b/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/DeadStoreOfGlobal.ql
index fc10f66f5333..e7d916c48f36 100644
--- a/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/DeadStoreOfGlobal.ql
+++ b/javascript/ql/src/Declarations/DeadStoreOfGlobal.ql
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ where
   // 'v' is not externally declared...
   not exists(ExternalVarDecl d | d.getName() = v.getName() |
     // ...as a member of {Window,Worker,WebWorker}.prototype
-    d.(ExternalInstanceMemberDecl).getBaseName().regexpMatch("Window|Worker|WebWorker")
+    d.(ExternalInstanceMemberDecl).getBaseName() = ["Window", "Worker", "WebWorker"]
     or
     // ...or as a member of window
     d.(ExternalStaticMemberDecl).getBaseName() = "window"
diff --git a/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/ArgumentsCallerCallee.ql b/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/ArgumentsCallerCallee.ql
index fb7055d8f991..6354383f6c78 100644
--- a/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/ArgumentsCallerCallee.ql
+++ b/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/ArgumentsCallerCallee.ql
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import javascript
 from PropAccess acc, ArgumentsVariable args
 where
   acc.getBase() = args.getAnAccess() and
-  acc.getPropertyName().regexpMatch("caller|callee") and
+  acc.getPropertyName() = ["caller", "callee"] and
   // don't flag cases where the variable can never contain an arguments object
   not exists(Function fn | args = fn.getVariable()) and
   not exists(Parameter p | args = p.getAVariable()) and
diff --git a/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/BadTypeof.ql b/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/BadTypeof.ql
index 1da17f3a8e87..1b9213edd1aa 100644
--- a/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/BadTypeof.ql
+++ b/javascript/ql/src/LanguageFeatures/BadTypeof.ql
@@ -50,8 +50,11 @@ from EqOrSwitch et, TypeofExpr typeof, ConstantString str
 where
   typeof = et.getAnOperand().getUnderlyingValue() and
   str = et.getAnOperand().getUnderlyingValue() and
-  not str.getStringValue()
-      .regexpMatch("undefined|boolean|number|string|object|function|symbol|unknown|date|bigint")
+  not str.getStringValue() =
+    [
+      "undefined", "boolean", "number", "string", "object", "function", "symbol", "unknown", "date",
+      "bigint"
+    ]
 select typeof,
   "The result of this 'typeof' expression is compared to '$@', but the two can never be equal.",
   str, str.getStringValue()
diff --git a/python/ql/src/experimental/semmle/python/libraries/Authlib.qll b/python/ql/src/experimental/semmle/python/libraries/Authlib.qll
index f8121630e397..afb80950ea6e 100644
--- a/python/ql/src/experimental/semmle/python/libraries/Authlib.qll
+++ b/python/ql/src/experimental/semmle/python/libraries/Authlib.qll
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ private module Authlib {
     override DataFlow::Node getAlgorithm() {
       exists(KeyValuePair headerDict |
         headerDict = this.getArg(0).asExpr().(Dict).getItem(_) and
-        headerDict.getKey().(Str_).getS().matches("alg") and
+        headerDict.getKey().(Str_).getS() = "alg" and
         result.asExpr() = headerDict.getValue()
       )
     }
diff --git a/python/ql/src/external/Thrift.qll b/python/ql/src/external/Thrift.qll
index cbaf562cbc4d..330aab7ee3f0 100644
--- a/python/ql/src/external/Thrift.qll
+++ b/python/ql/src/external/Thrift.qll
@@ -104,28 +104,28 @@ class ThriftType extends ThriftNamedElement {
 
 /** A thrift typedef */
 class ThriftTypeDef extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftTypeDef() { kind.matches("typedef") }
+  ThriftTypeDef() { kind = "typedef" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(2).getChild(0) }
 }
 
 /** A thrift enum declaration */
 class ThriftEnum extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftEnum() { kind.matches("enum") }
+  ThriftEnum() { kind = "enum" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(0).getChild(0) }
 }
 
 /** A thrift enum field */
 class ThriftEnumField extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftEnumField() { kind.matches("enumfield") }
+  ThriftEnumField() { kind = "enumfield" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(0).getChild(0) }
 }
 
 /** A thrift service declaration */
 class ThriftService extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftService() { kind.matches("service") }
+  ThriftService() { kind = "service" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(0).getChild(0) }
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class ThriftService extends ThriftNamedElement {
 
 /** A thrift function declaration */
 class ThriftFunction extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftFunction() { kind.matches("function") }
+  ThriftFunction() { kind = "function" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(2).getChild(0) }
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class ThriftFunction extends ThriftNamedElement {
 }
 
 class ThriftField extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftField() { kind.matches("field") }
+  ThriftField() { kind = "field" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(4) }
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class ThriftField extends ThriftNamedElement {
 }
 
 class ThriftStruct extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftStruct() { kind.matches("struct") }
+  ThriftStruct() { kind = "struct" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(0).getChild(0) }
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class ThriftStruct extends ThriftNamedElement {
 }
 
 class ThriftException extends ThriftNamedElement {
-  ThriftException() { kind.matches("exception") }
+  ThriftException() { kind = "exception" }
 
   override ThriftElement getNameElement() { result = this.getChild(0).getChild(0) }
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class ThriftException extends ThriftNamedElement {
 }
 
 class ThriftThrows extends ThriftElement {
-  ThriftThrows() { kind.matches("throws") }
+  ThriftThrows() { kind = "throws" }
 
   ThriftField getAThrows() { result = this.getChild(_) }
 }
diff --git a/ql/ql/src/queries/style/UseStringComp.ql b/ql/ql/src/queries/style/UseStringComp.ql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7de268a70730
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ql/ql/src/queries/style/UseStringComp.ql
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/**
+ * @name Use of regexp to match a set of constant string
+ * @description Comparing against constant strings instead of a regexp can improve performance
+ * @kind problem
+ * @problem.severity recommendation
+ * @id ql/use-string-compare
+ * @tags maintainability
+ * @precision high
+ */
+
+import ql
+import codeql_ql.ast.internal.Type
+
+predicate problem(MemberCall call) {
+  call.getBase().getType().getASuperType*().(PrimitiveType).getName() = "string" and
+  (
+    call.getMemberName() = "regexpMatch" and
+    call.getNumberOfArguments() = 1 and
+    call.getArgument(0).(String).getValue().regexpMatch("([a-zA-Z0-9]+\\|)*[a-zA-Z0-9]+")
+    or
+    exists(string reg | call.getMemberName() = "matches" |
+      call.getNumberOfArguments() = 1 and
+      reg = call.getArgument(0).(String).getValue() and
+      not reg.regexpMatch(".*(%|_).*")
+    )
+  )
+}
+
+from AstNode node
+where problem(node)
+select node, "Use string comparison instead of regexp to compare against a constant set of string."
diff --git a/ruby/ql/lib/codeql/ruby/security/internal/CleartextSources.qll b/ruby/ql/lib/codeql/ruby/security/internal/CleartextSources.qll
index 8a3c59d795c6..672340fb5355 100644
--- a/ruby/ql/lib/codeql/ruby/security/internal/CleartextSources.qll
+++ b/ruby/ql/lib/codeql/ruby/security/internal/CleartextSources.qll
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ module CleartextSources {
    * sensitive data with a call to `sub`.
    */
   private predicate effectiveSubRegExp(CfgNodes::ExprNodes::RegExpLiteralCfgNode re) {
-    re.getConstantValue().getStringlikeValue().matches([".*", ".+"])
+    re.getConstantValue().getStringlikeValue() = [".*", ".+"]
   }
 
   /**
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ module CleartextSources {
    * sensitive data with a call to `gsub`.
    */
   private predicate effectiveGsubRegExp(CfgNodes::ExprNodes::RegExpLiteralCfgNode re) {
-    re.getConstantValue().getStringlikeValue().matches(".")
+    re.getConstantValue().getStringlikeValue() = "."
   }
 
   /**