Thread: JavaScript syntax

OK, so I ran across the following code (in someone's webpage) that checks whether an email address submitted is actually valid (in syntax only, my guess).

Code:

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
function checkEmail(myForm) {
  if (/^\w+([\.-]?\w+)*@\w+([\.-]?\w+)*(\.\w{2,3})+$/.test(myForm.email.value)){
    return (true)
  }
  alert("Invalid E-mail Address! Please re-enter.")
  return (false)
}
//  End -->
</script>

Could someone go through the line if (/^\w+([\.-]?\w+)*@\w+([\.-]?\w+)*(\.\w{2,3})+$/.test(myForm.email.value)) end explain the syntax (what checks are made)? For example, what does "/^\w" accomplish?