Final answer:
The '^' symbol in regex is used to match the beginning of a string, ensuring that the specified pattern appears right at the start.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of regex, the caret symbol '^' is used to match the start of a string. For example, the regex ^abc will match any string that begins with 'abc'.
This is a fundamental aspect of regular expressions, as it allows you to specify that the match must occur at the very beginning of the string, rather than anywhere within it.