gistfile1.php

<?php
preg_match_all('/({[a-z0-9_\(\)]+})/', "name: {name} --- {foo()}", $matches);

var_dump($matches);

?>
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}
array(2) {
  [0]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
  [1]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "{name}"
    [1]=>
    string(7) "{foo()}"
  }
}