+ # Don't create empty <span> elements.
+ next if $end <= $begin;
+
+ my $escaped = esc_html(substr($str, $begin, $end - $begin));
+
+ $out .= esc_html(substr($str, $pos, $begin - $pos))
+ if ($begin - $pos > 0);
+ $out .= $cgi->span({-class => $css_class}, $escaped);
+
+ $pos = $end;