pattern syntax for match()

i would like to do the following operation:
let m = match( "foo" , "foo\|beep" )
however, i get no match. (m is (-1).)
what is the correct pattern syntax to enable this match?
i am running vim:
VIM - Vi IMproved 9.2 (2026 Feb 14, compiled Mar 25 2026 09:59:45)
Included patches: 1-240
Huge version with GTK3 GUI.

thanks.

--
s. cowles
scowles at sonic dot net
Key fingerprint = 6DEC FF05 6952 3967 BE66 1BBD 588D 8B40 EFB8 4AA2


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