diff --git a/weed/ec/ec_decode.go b/weed/ec/ec_decode.go
index a20830529..985b522c5 100644
--- a/weed/ec/ec_decode.go
+++ b/weed/ec/ec_decode.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package ec
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/glog"
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/needle"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/types"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/status"
@@ -357,12 +357,12 @@ func collectEcShards(env *Env, nodeToShardsInfo map[pb.ServerAddress]*erasure_co
 
 	return targetNodeLocation, err
 }
-func CollectEcShardIds(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, collectionRegex *regexp.Regexp, diskType types.DiskType) (vids []needle.VolumeId) {
+func CollectEcShardIds(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, collectionMatcher *wildcard.CollectionMatcher, diskType types.DiskType) (vids []needle.VolumeId) {
 	vidMap := make(map[uint32]bool)
 	EachDataNode(topoInfo, func(dc DataCenterId, rack RackId, dn *master_pb.DataNodeInfo) {
 		if diskInfo, found := dn.DiskInfos[string(diskType)]; found {
 			for _, v := range diskInfo.EcShardInfos {
-				if collectionRegex.MatchString(v.Collection) {
+				if collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) {
 					vidMap[v.Id] = true
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/weed/ec/ec_encode.go b/weed/ec/ec_encode.go
index d57ce4128..c6f77fdaa 100644
--- a/weed/ec/ec_encode.go
+++ b/weed/ec/ec_encode.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"regexp"
 	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
@@ -25,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/types"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/volume_replica"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/wdclient"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 )
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ func generateEcShards(grpcDialOption grpc.DialOption, volumeId needle.VolumeId,
 
 }
 
-func SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb uint64, collectionRegex *regexp.Regexp, sourceDiskType *types.DiskType, quietSeconds int64, nowUnixSeconds int64, fullPercentage float64, verbose bool) (vids []needle.VolumeId, matchedCollections []string) {
+func SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb uint64, collectionMatcher *wildcard.CollectionMatcher, sourceDiskType *types.DiskType, quietSeconds int64, nowUnixSeconds int64, fullPercentage float64, verbose bool) (vids []needle.VolumeId, matchedCollections []string) {
 	// Statistics for verbose mode
 	var (
 		totalVolumes    int
@@ -957,11 +957,11 @@ func SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, volumeSiz
 				}
 
 				// check collection against regex pattern
-				if !collectionRegex.MatchString(v.Collection) {
+				if !collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) {
 					wrongCollection++
 					if verbose {
 						fmt.Printf("skip volume %d on %s: collection doesn't match pattern (pattern: %s, actual: %s)\n",
-							v.Id, dn.Id, collectionRegex.String(), v.Collection)
+							v.Id, dn.Id, collectionMatcher.String(), v.Collection)
 					}
 					continue
 				}
diff --git a/weed/ec/ec_encode_test.go b/weed/ec/ec_encode_test.go
index 9f1796d43..feb6b6030 100644
--- a/weed/ec/ec_encode_test.go
+++ b/weed/ec/ec_encode_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package ec
 
 import (
-	"regexp"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/needle"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/types"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
@@ -126,8 +126,7 @@ func TestSelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	volumeSizeLimitMb := uint64(1000)
-	collectionPattern := ".*"
-	collectionRegex, _ := regexp.Compile(collectionPattern)
+	collectionMatcher, _ := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(".*")
 
 	// ec.encode -force
 	// force means we ignore the check for 4+ volume servers.
@@ -177,7 +176,7 @@ func TestSelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(t *testing.T) {
 	// In the provided topology, FreeVolumeCount is 1 ("free:1"), so it is < 2.
 	// So ALL volumes should be skipped due to insufficient free disk space.
 
-	vids, _ := SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb, collectionRegex, nil, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, fullPercentage, verbose)
+	vids, _ := SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb, collectionMatcher, nil, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, fullPercentage, verbose)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(vids), "Should select 0 volumes because FreeVolumeCount is 1 (less than 2)")
 
@@ -197,7 +196,7 @@ func TestSelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// So expected volumes: 10, 11, 12.
 
-	vids, _ = SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb, collectionRegex, nil, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, fullPercentage, verbose)
+	vids, _ = SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb, collectionMatcher, nil, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, fullPercentage, verbose)
 
 	expectedVids := []needle.VolumeId{10, 11, 12}
 	assert.Equal(t, len(expectedVids), len(vids), "Should select 3 volumes")
diff --git a/weed/plugin/worker/collection_filter.go b/weed/plugin/worker/collection_filter.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 999af305b..000000000
--- a/weed/plugin/worker/collection_filter.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,89 +0,0 @@
-package pluginworker
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"regexp"
-	"strings"
-
-	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
-)
-
-// CollectionFilterMode controls how collections are interpreted during
-// detection. The two recognized sentinels short-circuit matching:
-//   - CollectionFilterAll: pool every collection together (default).
-//   - CollectionFilterEach: run detection separately per collection.
-//
-// Any other non-empty value is a comma-separated list of collection patterns.
-type CollectionFilterMode string
-
-const (
-	CollectionFilterAll  CollectionFilterMode = "ALL_COLLECTIONS"
-	CollectionFilterEach CollectionFilterMode = "EACH_COLLECTION"
-)
-
-// regexMetaCharacters mark a filter entry as a regex; "*" and "?" stay wildcards.
-const regexMetaCharacters = `.^$+()[]{}|\`
-
-// CollectionMatcher matches a volume collection against a collection_filter value.
-type CollectionMatcher struct {
-	wildcards []string
-	regexes   []*regexp.Regexp
-}
-
-// CompileCollectionMatcher parses a collection_filter into a matcher. A nil
-// matcher accepts every collection: that is the empty filter, "*", and both
-// mode sentinels. Any other value is a comma-separated list, and a collection
-// passes when one entry matches it. An entry is a name, optionally with "*" and
-// "?" wildcards, or a regex when it carries regex syntax. A regex entry must
-// match the whole name unless it anchors itself with "^" or "$".
-func CompileCollectionMatcher(filter string) (*CollectionMatcher, error) {
-	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(filter)
-	mode := CollectionFilterMode(trimmed)
-	if trimmed == "" || trimmed == "*" || mode == CollectionFilterAll || mode == CollectionFilterEach {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-
-	matcher := &CollectionMatcher{}
-	for _, entry := range strings.Split(trimmed, ",") {
-		entry = strings.TrimSpace(entry)
-		if entry == "" {
-			continue
-		}
-		if !strings.ContainsAny(entry, regexMetaCharacters) {
-			matcher.wildcards = append(matcher.wildcards, entry)
-			continue
-		}
-		pattern := entry
-		if !strings.ContainsAny(entry, "^$") {
-			pattern = "^(?:" + entry + ")$"
-		}
-		compiled, err := regexp.Compile(pattern)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid collection_filter entry %q: %w", entry, err)
-		}
-		matcher.regexes = append(matcher.regexes, compiled)
-	}
-
-	if len(matcher.wildcards) == 0 && len(matcher.regexes) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	return matcher, nil
-}
-
-// Matches reports whether a collection passes the filter. A nil matcher accepts everything.
-func (m *CollectionMatcher) Matches(collection string) bool {
-	if m == nil {
-		return true
-	}
-	for _, pattern := range m.wildcards {
-		if wildcard.MatchesWildcard(pattern, collection) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	for _, re := range m.regexes {
-		if re.MatchString(collection) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
diff --git a/weed/plugin/worker/collection_filter_test.go b/weed/plugin/worker/collection_filter_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 471358301..000000000
--- a/weed/plugin/worker/collection_filter_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-package pluginworker
-
-import "testing"
-
-func TestCompileCollectionMatcher(t *testing.T) {
-	cases := []struct {
-		filter  string
-		matches []string
-		misses  []string
-	}{
-		{filter: "", matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
-		{filter: "*", matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
-		{filter: string(CollectionFilterAll), matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
-		{filter: string(CollectionFilterEach), matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
-		{filter: "photos", matches: []string{"photos"}, misses: []string{"", "photos-backup", "myphotos"}},
-		{filter: "collection-a,collection-b", matches: []string{"collection-a", "collection-b"}, misses: []string{"collection-c"}},
-		{filter: " collection-a , collection-b ,", matches: []string{"collection-a", "collection-b"}, misses: []string{"collection-c"}},
-		{filter: "photos*,videos", matches: []string{"photos", "photos-backup", "videos"}, misses: []string{"clips"}},
-		{filter: "photo?", matches: []string{"photos"}, misses: []string{"photo", "photos-backup"}},
-		// A regex entry matches the whole name unless it anchors itself.
-		{filter: "photos|videos", matches: []string{"photos", "videos"}, misses: []string{"photos-backup"}},
-		{filter: "^photos", matches: []string{"photos", "photos-backup"}, misses: []string{"videos"}},
-		{filter: "photos-.*,videos", matches: []string{"photos-backup", "videos"}, misses: []string{"photos"}},
-	}
-
-	for _, c := range cases {
-		matcher, err := CompileCollectionMatcher(c.filter)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("CompileCollectionMatcher(%q): %v", c.filter, err)
-		}
-		for _, collection := range c.matches {
-			if !matcher.Matches(collection) {
-				t.Errorf("filter %q should match collection %q", c.filter, collection)
-			}
-		}
-		for _, collection := range c.misses {
-			if matcher.Matches(collection) {
-				t.Errorf("filter %q should not match collection %q", c.filter, collection)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCompileCollectionMatcherInvalidEntry(t *testing.T) {
-	if _, err := CompileCollectionMatcher("photos,[invalid"); err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected an error for an unparsable entry")
-	}
-}
diff --git a/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics.go b/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics.go
index d40c7c2b3..be60d05ee 100644
--- a/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics.go
+++ b/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/glog"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	workertypes "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/worker/types"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 )
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ func buildVolumeMetrics(
 		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
-	collectionMatcher, err := CompileCollectionMatcher(collectionFilter)
+	collectionMatcher, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(collectionFilter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, nil, &configError{err: err}
 	}
diff --git a/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics_test.go b/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics_test.go
index 89d1c9bd3..3deec5283 100644
--- a/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics_test.go
+++ b/weed/plugin/worker/volume_metrics_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 )
 
 func makeTestVolumeListResponse(volumes ...*master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage) *master_pb.VolumeListResponse {
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ func TestBuildVolumeMetricsAllCollections(t *testing.T) {
 		&master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage{Id: 1, Collection: "photos", Size: 100},
 		&master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage{Id: 2, Collection: "videos", Size: 200},
 	)
-	metrics, _, _, err := buildVolumeMetrics(resp, string(CollectionFilterAll))
+	metrics, _, _, err := buildVolumeMetrics(resp, string(wildcard.CollectionFilterAll))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ func TestBuildVolumeMetricsEachCollection(t *testing.T) {
 		&master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage{Id: 2, Collection: "videos", Size: 200},
 	)
 	// EACH_COLLECTION passes all volumes through; filtering happens in the handler
-	metrics, _, _, err := buildVolumeMetrics(resp, string(CollectionFilterEach))
+	metrics, _, _, err := buildVolumeMetrics(resp, string(wildcard.CollectionFilterEach))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go
index 0af548945..1fe691522 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_common.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package shell
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"regexp"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/ec"
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/needle"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/super_block"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/types"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/wdclient"
 )
 
@@ -141,17 +142,13 @@ func EcBalance(commandEnv *CommandEnv, collections []string, dc string, ecReplic
 	return ec.EcBalance(commandEnv.ecEnv(), collections, dc, ecReplicaPlacement, diskType, maxParallelization, ioBytePerSecond, applyBalancing, excludeNodes, volumeIds, nil)
 }
 
-// compileCollectionPattern compiles a regex pattern for collection matching.
-// Empty patterns match empty collections only.
-// The special keyword CollectionDefault ("_default") matches empty collections.
-func compileCollectionPattern(pattern string) (*regexp.Regexp, error) {
-	if pattern == "" {
-		// empty pattern matches empty collection
-		return regexp.Compile("^$")
+// compileCollectionPattern compiles the -collection value shared by the ec and
+// tier commands: a comma-separated list of collection names, wildcards, and
+// regex patterns. An empty value matches the empty-named collection only, the
+// same as CollectionDefault.
+func compileCollectionPattern(pattern string) (*wildcard.CollectionMatcher, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(pattern) == "" {
+		pattern = CollectionDefault
 	}
-	if pattern == CollectionDefault {
-		// CollectionDefault keyword matches empty collection
-		return regexp.Compile("^$")
-	}
-	return regexp.Compile(pattern)
+	return wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(pattern)
 }
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_common_test.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_common_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a44780081
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_common_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package shell
+
+import "testing"
+
+// The ec and tier commands read an empty -collection as the collection with no
+// name, unlike -collectionPattern, where empty means every collection.
+func TestCompileCollectionPattern(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		pattern string
+		matches []string
+		misses  []string
+	}{
+		{pattern: "", matches: []string{""}, misses: []string{"pictures"}},
+		{pattern: CollectionDefault, matches: []string{""}, misses: []string{"pictures"}},
+		{pattern: "pictures", matches: []string{"pictures"}, misses: []string{"", "pictures-backup"}},
+		{pattern: "pictures,videos", matches: []string{"pictures", "videos"}, misses: []string{"", "clips"}},
+		{pattern: "pictures,_default", matches: []string{"pictures", ""}, misses: []string{"clips"}},
+		{pattern: "pictures*", matches: []string{"pictures", "pictures-backup"}, misses: []string{"clips"}},
+		{pattern: "^pictures", matches: []string{"pictures", "pictures-backup"}, misses: []string{"clips"}},
+		{pattern: "*", matches: []string{"", "pictures"}},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		matcher, err := compileCollectionPattern(tt.pattern)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("compileCollectionPattern(%q): %v", tt.pattern, err)
+		}
+		for _, collection := range tt.matches {
+			if !matcher.Matches(collection) {
+				t.Errorf("pattern %q should match collection %q", tt.pattern, collection)
+			}
+		}
+		for _, collection := range tt.misses {
+			if matcher.Matches(collection) {
+				t.Errorf("pattern %q should not match collection %q", tt.pattern, collection)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go
index 6ba88dc79..9a10fbf95 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (c *commandEcDecode) HasTag(CommandTag) bool {
 func (c *commandEcDecode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 	decodeCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	volumeId := decodeCommand.Int("volumeId", 0, "the volume id")
-	collection := decodeCommand.String("collection", "", "the collection name")
+	collection := decodeCommand.String("collection", "", "comma-separated collection names, wildcards, or regex patterns; empty matches the collection with no name")
 	diskTypeStr := decodeCommand.String("diskType", "", "source disk type where EC shards are stored (hdd, ssd, or empty for default hdd)")
 	checkMinFreeSpace := decodeCommand.Bool("checkMinFreeSpace", true, "check min free space when selecting the decode target")
 	batchSize := decodeCommand.Int("batchSize", DefaultEcBatchSize, "decode up to this many volumes per topology refresh (0 = one snapshot for all volumes)")
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ func (c *commandEcDecode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Wr
 	}
 
 	// apply to all volumes in the collection
-	collectionRegex, err := compileCollectionPattern(*collection)
+	collectionMatcher, err := compileCollectionPattern(*collection)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid collection pattern '%s': %v", *collection, err)
 	}
-	volumeIds := ec.CollectEcShardIds(topologyInfo, collectionRegex, diskType)
+	volumeIds := ec.CollectEcShardIds(topologyInfo, collectionMatcher, diskType)
 	fmt.Printf("ec decode volumes: %v\n", volumeIds)
 	batches := chunkVolumeIds(volumeIds, *batchSize)
 	for i, batch := range batches {
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go
index 0af96dc7c..c8943b2dd 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go
@@ -47,10 +47,13 @@ func (c *commandEcEncode) Help() string {
 	If you only have less than 4 volume servers, with erasure coding, at least you can afford to
 	have 4 corrupted shard files.
 
-	The -collection parameter supports regular expressions for pattern matching:
-	  - Use exact match: ec.encode -collection="^mybucket$"
-	  - Match multiple buckets: ec.encode -collection="bucket.*"
-	  - Match all collections: ec.encode -collection=".*"
+	The -collection parameter is a comma-separated list of collection names, with
+	"*" and "?" wildcards, and regex patterns:
+	  - One collection: ec.encode -collection="mybucket"
+	  - Several collections: ec.encode -collection="mybucket,otherbucket"
+	  - Match by prefix: ec.encode -collection="bucket*"
+	  - Match all collections: ec.encode -collection="*"
+	  - The empty-named collection: ec.encode -collection="_default"
 
 	Options:
 	  -verbose: show detailed reasons why volumes are not selected for encoding
@@ -88,7 +91,7 @@ func (c *commandEcEncode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Wr
 	encodeCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	volumeId := encodeCommand.Int("volumeId", 0, "the volume id")
 	volumeIdsStr := encodeCommand.String("volumeIds", "", "comma-separated volume ids")
-	collection := encodeCommand.String("collection", "", "collection name or regex pattern")
+	collection := encodeCommand.String("collection", "", "comma-separated collection names, wildcards, or regex patterns; empty matches the collection with no name")
 	fullPercentage := encodeCommand.Float64("fullPercent", 95, "the volume reaches the percentage of max volume size")
 	quietPeriod := encodeCommand.Duration("quietFor", time.Hour, "select volumes without no writes for this period")
 	maxParallelization := encodeCommand.Int("maxParallelization", DefaultMaxParallelization, "run up to X tasks in parallel, whenever possible")
@@ -186,7 +189,7 @@ func (c *commandEcEncode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Wr
 }
 func collectVolumeIdsForEcEncode(commandEnv *CommandEnv, collectionPattern string, sourceDiskType *types.DiskType, fullPercentage float64, quietPeriod time.Duration, verbose bool) (vids []needle.VolumeId, matchedCollections []string, err error) {
 	// compile regex pattern for collection matching
-	collectionRegex, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
+	collectionMatcher, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid collection pattern '%s': %v", collectionPattern, err)
 	}
@@ -202,6 +205,6 @@ func collectVolumeIdsForEcEncode(commandEnv *CommandEnv, collectionPattern strin
 
 	fmt.Printf("collect volumes with collection pattern '%s', quiet for: %d seconds and %.1f%% full\n", collectionPattern, quietSeconds, fullPercentage)
 
-	vids, matchedCollections = ec.SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb, collectionRegex, sourceDiskType, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, fullPercentage, verbose)
+	vids, matchedCollections = ec.SelectVolumeIdsFromTopology(topologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb, collectionMatcher, sourceDiskType, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, fullPercentage, verbose)
 	return
 }
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go
index 564a5fea4..60baebcf4 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/super_block"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/types"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/topology/balancer"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/needle"
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeBalance) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer
 	*allowedVolumeBy["ACTIVE"] = true
 	balanceCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	verbose := balanceCommand.Bool("v", false, "verbose mode")
-	collection := balanceCommand.String("collection", "ALL_COLLECTIONS", "collection name, or use \"ALL_COLLECTIONS\" across collections, \"EACH_COLLECTION\" for each collection")
+	collection := balanceCommand.String("collection", "ALL_COLLECTIONS", "comma-separated collection names, wildcards, or regex patterns, or \"ALL_COLLECTIONS\" across collections, \"EACH_COLLECTION\" for each collection")
 	dc := balanceCommand.String("dataCenter", "", "only apply the balancing for this dataCenter")
 	racks := balanceCommand.String("racks", "", "only apply the balancing for this racks")
 	nodes := balanceCommand.String("nodes", "", "only apply the balancing for this nodes")
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeBalance) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer
 	volumeReplicas, _ := collectVolumeReplicaLocations(topologyInfo)
 	diskTypes := collectVolumeDiskTypes(topologyInfo)
 
-	if *collection == "EACH_COLLECTION" {
+	if *collection == string(wildcard.CollectionFilterEach) {
 		collections, err := ListCollectionNames(commandEnv, true, false)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -212,18 +212,18 @@ func (c *commandVolumeBalance) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer
 				return err
 			}
 		}
-	} else if *collection == "ALL_COLLECTIONS" {
-		// Pass nil pattern for all collections
-		if err = c.balanceVolumeServers(diskTypes, volumeReplicas, volumeServers, nil, *collection); err != nil {
+	} else if *collection == string(wildcard.CollectionFilterAll) || *collection == "*" {
+		// Pass nil matcher for all collections
+		if err = c.balanceVolumeServers(diskTypes, volumeReplicas, volumeServers, nil, string(wildcard.CollectionFilterAll)); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	} else {
 		// Compile user-provided pattern
-		collectionPattern, err := compileCollectionPattern(*collection)
+		collectionMatcher, err := compileCollectionPattern(*collection)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid collection pattern '%s': %v", *collection, err)
 		}
-		if err = c.balanceVolumeServers(diskTypes, volumeReplicas, volumeServers, collectionPattern, *collection); err != nil {
+		if err = c.balanceVolumeServers(diskTypes, volumeReplicas, volumeServers, collectionMatcher, *collection); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -231,25 +231,24 @@ func (c *commandVolumeBalance) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *commandVolumeBalance) balanceVolumeServers(diskTypes []types.DiskType, volumeReplicas map[uint32][]*VolumeReplica, nodes []*Node, collectionPattern *regexp.Regexp, collectionName string) error {
+func (c *commandVolumeBalance) balanceVolumeServers(diskTypes []types.DiskType, volumeReplicas map[uint32][]*VolumeReplica, nodes []*Node, collectionMatcher *wildcard.CollectionMatcher, collectionName string) error {
 	for _, diskType := range diskTypes {
 		if c.volumesPerExec > 0 && c.movedCount >= c.volumesPerExec {
 			break
 		}
-		if err := c.balanceVolumeServersByDiskType(diskType, volumeReplicas, nodes, collectionPattern, collectionName); err != nil {
+		if err := c.balanceVolumeServersByDiskType(diskType, volumeReplicas, nodes, collectionMatcher, collectionName); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *commandVolumeBalance) balanceVolumeServersByDiskType(diskType types.DiskType, volumeReplicas map[uint32][]*VolumeReplica, nodes []*Node, collectionPattern *regexp.Regexp, collectionName string) error {
+func (c *commandVolumeBalance) balanceVolumeServersByDiskType(diskType types.DiskType, volumeReplicas map[uint32][]*VolumeReplica, nodes []*Node, collectionMatcher *wildcard.CollectionMatcher, collectionName string) error {
 	for _, n := range nodes {
 		n.selectVolumes(func(v *master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage) bool {
-			if collectionName != "ALL_COLLECTIONS" {
-				if collectionPattern != nil {
-					// Use regex pattern matching
-					if !collectionPattern.MatchString(v.Collection) {
+			if collectionName != string(wildcard.CollectionFilterAll) {
+				if collectionMatcher != nil {
+					if !collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) {
 						return false
 					}
 				} else {
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_configure_replication.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_configure_replication.go
index 74d20eb93..8add4aad8 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_configure_replication.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_configure_replication.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"path/filepath"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb"
 
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/volume_server_pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/needle"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/super_block"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeConfigureReplication) Do(args []string, commandEnv *Comman
 	configureReplicationCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	volumeIdInt := configureReplicationCommand.Int("volumeId", 0, "the volume id")
 	replicationString := configureReplicationCommand.String("replication", "", "the intended replication value")
-	collectionPattern := configureReplicationCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "match with wildcard characters '*' and '?'")
+	collectionPattern := configureReplicationCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "comma-separated collection names, with '*' and '?' wildcards; empty matches all")
 	if err = configureReplicationCommand.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ func (c *commandVolumeConfigureReplication) Do(args []string, commandEnv *Comman
 	}
 
 	vid := needle.VolumeId(*volumeIdInt)
-	volumeFilter := getVolumeFilter(replicaPlacement, uint32(vid), *collectionPattern)
+	volumeFilter, err := getVolumeFilter(replicaPlacement, uint32(vid), *collectionPattern)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	// find all data nodes with volumes that needs replication change
 	eachDataNode(topologyInfo, func(dc DataCenterId, rack RackId, dn *master_pb.DataNodeInfo) {
@@ -108,27 +111,18 @@ func (c *commandVolumeConfigureReplication) Do(args []string, commandEnv *Comman
 	return err
 }
 
-func getVolumeFilter(replicaPlacement *super_block.ReplicaPlacement, volumeId uint32, collectionPattern string) func(message *master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage) bool {
+func getVolumeFilter(replicaPlacement *super_block.ReplicaPlacement, volumeId uint32, collectionPattern string) (func(message *master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage) bool, error) {
 	replicaPlacementInt32 := uint32(replicaPlacement.Byte())
 	if volumeId > 0 {
 		return func(v *master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage) bool {
 			return v.Id == volumeId && v.ReplicaPlacement != replicaPlacementInt32
-		}
+		}, nil
+	}
+	collectionMatcher, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(collectionPattern)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	return func(v *master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage) bool {
-		var collectionMatched bool
-		if collectionPattern == "" {
-			// Empty pattern matches all collections
-			collectionMatched = true
-		} else if collectionPattern == CollectionDefault {
-			collectionMatched = v.Collection == ""
-		} else {
-			m, err := filepath.Match(collectionPattern, v.Collection)
-			if err != nil {
-				return false
-			}
-			collectionMatched = m
-		}
-		return collectionMatched && v.ReplicaPlacement != replicaPlacementInt32
-	}
+		return collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) && v.ReplicaPlacement != replicaPlacementInt32
+	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty.go
index 2ff79a248..507b70de4 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/needle"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/super_block"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeDeleteEmpty) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, wri
 
 	volDeleteCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	quietPeriod := volDeleteCommand.Duration("quietFor", 24*time.Hour, "select empty volumes with no recent writes, avoid newly created ones")
-	collectionPattern := volDeleteCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "match with wildcard characters '*' and '?'")
+	collectionPattern := volDeleteCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "comma-separated collection names, with '*' and '?' wildcards; empty matches all")
 	applyBalancing := volDeleteCommand.Bool("apply", false, "apply to delete empty volumes")
 	// TODO: remove this alias
 	applyBalancingAlias := volDeleteCommand.Bool("force", false, "apply to delete empty volumes (alias for -apply)")
@@ -64,13 +65,18 @@ func (c *commandVolumeDeleteEmpty) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, wri
 		return err
 	}
 
+	collectionMatcher, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(*collectionPattern)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	quietSeconds := int64(*quietPeriod / time.Second)
 	nowUnixSeconds := time.Now().Unix()
 
 	eachDataNode(topologyInfo, func(dc DataCenterId, rack RackId, dn *master_pb.DataNodeInfo) {
 		for _, diskInfo := range dn.DiskInfos {
 			for _, v := range diskInfo.VolumeInfos {
-				if isEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidate(v, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, *collectionPattern) {
+				if isEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidate(v, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds, collectionMatcher) {
 					if *applyBalancing {
 						log.Printf("deleting empty volume %d from %s", v.Id, dn.Id)
 						if deleteErr := deleteVolume(context.Background(), commandEnv.option.GrpcDialOption, needle.VolumeId(v.Id),
@@ -89,8 +95,8 @@ func (c *commandVolumeDeleteEmpty) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, wri
 	return
 }
 
-func isEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidate(v *master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds int64, collectionPattern string) bool {
-	return matchesVolumeCollectionPattern(collectionPattern, v.Collection) &&
+func isEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidate(v *master_pb.VolumeInformationMessage, quietSeconds, nowUnixSeconds int64, collectionMatcher *wildcard.CollectionMatcher) bool {
+	return collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) &&
 		v.Size <= super_block.SuperBlockSize &&
 		v.ModifiedAtSecond > 0 &&
 		v.ModifiedAtSecond+quietSeconds < nowUnixSeconds
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty_test.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty_test.go
index 7150244e4..344724271 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty_test.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_delete_empty_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 )
 
 func TestIsEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidateCollectionPattern(t *testing.T) {
@@ -26,13 +27,19 @@ func TestIsEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidateCollectionPattern(t *testing.T) {
 		{name: "wildcard rejects collection", pattern: "important*", collection: "other-logs", want: false},
 		{name: "default pattern matches empty collection", pattern: CollectionDefault, collection: "", want: true},
 		{name: "default pattern rejects named collection", pattern: CollectionDefault, collection: "important-logs", want: false},
+		{name: "list matches a listed collection", pattern: "other-logs,important-logs", collection: "important-logs", want: true},
+		{name: "list rejects an unlisted collection", pattern: "other-logs,important-logs", collection: "audit-logs", want: false},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			v := *quietEmptyVolume
 			v.Collection = tt.collection
-			if got := isEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidate(&v, quietSeconds, now, tt.pattern); got != tt.want {
+			matcher, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(tt.pattern)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("CompileCollectionMatcher(%q): %v", tt.pattern, err)
+			}
+			if got := isEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidate(&v, quietSeconds, now, matcher); got != tt.want {
 				t.Fatalf("isEmptyVolumeDeleteCandidate(collection=%q, pattern=%q) = %v, want %v",
 					tt.collection, tt.pattern, got, tt.want)
 			}
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication.go
index c2d9f8cba..8eaebc718 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 type commandVolumeFixReplication struct {
-	collectionPattern *string
+	collectionMatcher *wildcard.CollectionMatcher
 	// TODO: move parameter flags here so we don't shuffle them around via function calls.
 }
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeFixReplication) HasTag(tag CommandTag) bool {
 func (c *commandVolumeFixReplication) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
 	volFixReplicationCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
-	c.collectionPattern = volFixReplicationCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "match with wildcard characters '*' and '?'")
+	collectionPattern := volFixReplicationCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "comma-separated collection names, with '*' and '?' wildcards; empty matches all")
 	applyChanges := volFixReplicationCommand.Bool("apply", false, "apply the fix")
 	// TODO: remove this alias
 	applyChangesAlias := volFixReplicationCommand.Bool("force", false, "apply the fix (alias for -apply)")
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ func (c *commandVolumeFixReplication) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv,
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if c.collectionMatcher, err = wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(*collectionPattern); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	handleDeprecatedForceFlag(writer, volFixReplicationCommand, applyChangesAlias, applyChanges)
 	infoAboutSimulationMode(writer, *applyChanges, "-apply")
 	commandEnv.noLock = !*applyChanges
@@ -127,7 +131,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeFixReplication) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv,
 			replica := replicas[0]
 
 			// Filter here so the termination counter matches what gets fixed; else -apply loops forever.
-			if !c.matchCollectionPattern(replica.info.Collection) {
+			if !c.collectionMatcher.Matches(replica.info.Collection) {
 				continue
 			}
 
@@ -330,18 +334,6 @@ func checkOneVolume(a *VolumeReplica, b *VolumeReplica, writer io.Writer, comman
 	return
 }
 
-// matchCollectionPattern reports whether collection matches -collectionPattern:
-// empty matches everything, CollectionDefault matches the unnamed collection.
-func (c *commandVolumeFixReplication) matchCollectionPattern(collection string) bool {
-	if *c.collectionPattern == "" {
-		return true
-	}
-	if *c.collectionPattern == CollectionDefault {
-		return collection == ""
-	}
-	return wildcard.MatchesWildcard(*c.collectionPattern, collection)
-}
-
 // deleteOneVolume trims one replica from each of the given volumes, and
 // reports how many replicas it actually deleted.
 func (c *commandVolumeFixReplication) deleteOneVolume(commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer, applyChanges bool, doCheck bool, volumeIds []uint32, volumeReplicas map[uint32][]*VolumeReplica, selectOneVolumeFn SelectOneVolumeFunc) (deleted int, err error) {
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_collection_test.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_collection_test.go
index c304a9e57..23dc9effe 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_collection_test.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_collection_test.go
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 package shell
 
-import "testing"
+import (
+	"testing"
 
-func TestMatchCollectionPattern(t *testing.T) {
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
+)
+
+func TestFixReplicationCollectionPattern(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name       string
 		pattern    string
@@ -19,14 +23,19 @@ func TestMatchCollectionPattern(t *testing.T) {
 		{name: "prefix wildcard mismatch", pattern: "smart*", collection: "jfs-hdfs-test", expected: false},
 		{name: "single char wildcard match", pattern: "vol?", collection: "vol1", expected: true},
 		{name: "single char wildcard mismatch", pattern: "vol?", collection: "vol42", expected: false},
+		{name: "list matches a listed collection", pattern: "smart-highlevel-test,jfs-hdfs-test", collection: "jfs-hdfs-test", expected: true},
+		{name: "list rejects an unlisted collection", pattern: "smart-highlevel-test,jfs-hdfs-test", collection: "other", expected: false},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			pattern := tt.pattern
-			c := &commandVolumeFixReplication{collectionPattern: &pattern}
-			if got := c.matchCollectionPattern(tt.collection); got != tt.expected {
-				t.Errorf("matchCollectionPattern(pattern=%q, collection=%q) = %v, want %v",
+			matcher, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(tt.pattern)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("CompileCollectionMatcher(%q): %v", tt.pattern, err)
+			}
+			c := &commandVolumeFixReplication{collectionMatcher: matcher}
+			if got := c.collectionMatcher.Matches(tt.collection); got != tt.expected {
+				t.Errorf("collection pattern %q against collection %q = %v, want %v",
 					tt.pattern, tt.collection, got, tt.expected)
 			}
 		})
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_parallel_test.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_parallel_test.go
index 4eeaaf7fc..7b5ec239c 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_parallel_test.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_fix_replication_parallel_test.go
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func TestFixUnderReplicatedVolumesInParallel(t *testing.T) {
 		volumeIds = append(volumeIds, vid)
 	}
 
-	c := &commandVolumeFixReplication{collectionPattern: new(string)}
+	c := &commandVolumeFixReplication{}
 	fixedVolumes, err := c.fixUnderReplicatedVolumes(nil, io.Discard, false, volumeIds, volumeReplicas, allLocations, 0, 0, 8, 1)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("fixUnderReplicatedVolumes: %v", err)
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_list.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_list.go
index a9912356c..32e8c5935 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_list.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_list.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 type commandVolumeList struct {
-	collectionPattern *string
+	collectionMatcher *wildcard.CollectionMatcher
 	dataCenter        *string
 	rack              *string
 	dataNode          *string
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeList) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 
 	volumeListCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	verbosityLevel := volumeListCommand.Int("v", 5, "verbose mode: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5")
-	c.collectionPattern = volumeListCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "match with wildcard characters '*' and '?'")
+	collectionPattern := volumeListCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "comma-separated collection names, with '*' and '?' wildcards; empty matches all")
 	c.readonly = volumeListCommand.Bool("readonly", false, "show only readonly volumes")
 	c.writable = volumeListCommand.Bool("writable", false, "show only writable volumes")
 	c.volumeId = volumeListCommand.Uint64("volumeId", 0, "show only volume id")
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ func (c *commandVolumeList) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if c.collectionMatcher, err = wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(*collectionPattern); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// collect topology information
 	var topologyInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo
 	topologyInfo, c.volumeSizeLimitMb, err = collectTopologyInfo(commandEnv, 0)
@@ -319,7 +323,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeList) isNotMatchDiskInfo(readOnly bool, collection string,
 	if *c.writable && (readOnly || volumeSize == -1 || (c.volumeSizeLimitMb > 0 && uint64(volumeSize) >= c.volumeSizeLimitMb*util.MiByte)) {
 		return true
 	}
-	if !matchesVolumeCollectionPattern(*c.collectionPattern, collection) {
+	if !c.collectionMatcher.Matches(collection) {
 		return true
 	}
 	if *c.volumeId > 0 && *c.volumeId != uint64(volumeId) {
@@ -328,16 +332,6 @@ func (c *commandVolumeList) isNotMatchDiskInfo(readOnly bool, collection string,
 	return false
 }
 
-func matchesVolumeCollectionPattern(pattern, collection string) bool {
-	if pattern == "" {
-		return true
-	}
-	if pattern == CollectionDefault {
-		return collection == ""
-	}
-	return wildcard.MatchesWildcard(pattern, collection)
-}
-
 func (c *commandVolumeList) writeDiskInfo(writer io.Writer, t *master_pb.DiskInfo, verbosityLevel int, outNodeInfo func()) statistics {
 	var s statistics
 	diskType := t.Type
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_list_test.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_list_test.go
index be211787d..1fd32378e 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_list_test.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_list_test.go
@@ -160,7 +160,6 @@ func TestWriteDataNodeInfo_SplitsCollapsedDisksByPhysicalDiskId(t *testing.T) {
 
 	c := &commandVolumeList{}
 	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("volume.list", flag.ContinueOnError)
-	c.collectionPattern = fs.String("collection", "", "")
 	c.dataCenter = fs.String("dataCenter", "", "")
 	c.rack = fs.String("rack", "", "")
 	c.dataNode = fs.String("dataNode", "", "")
@@ -205,7 +204,6 @@ func TestWriteTopologyInfo_PrintsParentHeadersOnce(t *testing.T) {
 
 	c := &commandVolumeList{}
 	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("volume.list", flag.ContinueOnError)
-	c.collectionPattern = fs.String("collection", "", "")
 	c.dataCenter = fs.String("dataCenter", "", "")
 	c.rack = fs.String("rack", "", "")
 	c.dataNode = fs.String("dataNode", "", "")
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_compact.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_compact.go
index 1b31ddce1..c73313d52 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_compact.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_compact.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeTierCompact) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, wri
 
 	tierCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	volumeId := tierCommand.Int("volumeId", 0, "the volume id")
-	collection := tierCommand.String("collection", "", "the collection name (supports regex)")
+	collection := tierCommand.String("collection", "", "comma-separated collection names, wildcards, or regex patterns; empty matches the collection with no name")
 	garbageThreshold := tierCommand.Float64("garbageThreshold", 0.3, "compact when garbage ratio exceeds this value")
 	if err = tierCommand.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return nil
@@ -120,14 +120,13 @@ func (c *commandVolumeTierCompact) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, wri
 }
 
 func findRemoteVolumeInTopology(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, vid needle.VolumeId, collectionPattern string) (remoteVolumeInfo, bool, error) {
-	// when collectionPattern is provided, compile and use as regex filter
 	var matchesCollection func(string) bool
 	if collectionPattern != "" {
-		collectionRegex, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
+		collectionMatcher, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
 		if err != nil {
 			return remoteVolumeInfo{}, false, fmt.Errorf("invalid collection pattern '%s': %v", collectionPattern, err)
 		}
-		matchesCollection = collectionRegex.MatchString
+		matchesCollection = collectionMatcher.Matches
 	} else {
 		matchesCollection = func(string) bool { return true }
 	}
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ func findRemoteVolumeInTopology(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, vid needle.Vol
 }
 
 func collectRemoteVolumesWithInfo(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, collectionPattern string) ([]remoteVolumeInfo, error) {
-	collectionRegex, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
+	collectionMatcher, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid collection pattern '%s': %v", collectionPattern, err)
 	}
@@ -174,7 +173,7 @@ func collectRemoteVolumesWithInfo(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, collectionPa
 				if v.RemoteStorageName == "" {
 					continue
 				}
-				if !collectionRegex.MatchString(v.Collection) {
+				if !collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) {
 					continue
 				}
 				if seen[v.Id] {
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_download.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_download.go
index f17199e9d..43ddda76d 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_download.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_download.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeTierDownload) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, wr
 
 	tierCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
 	volumeId := tierCommand.Int("volumeId", 0, "the volume id")
-	collection := tierCommand.String("collection", "", "the collection name")
+	collection := tierCommand.String("collection", "", "comma-separated collection names, wildcards, or regex patterns; empty matches the collection with no name")
 	if err = tierCommand.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeTierDownload) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, wr
 
 func collectRemoteVolumes(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, collectionPattern string) (vids []needle.VolumeId, err error) {
 	// compile regex pattern for collection matching
-	collectionRegex, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
+	collectionMatcher, err := compileCollectionPattern(collectionPattern)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid collection pattern '%s': %v", collectionPattern, err)
 	}
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func collectRemoteVolumes(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, collectionPattern st
 	eachDataNode(topoInfo, func(dc DataCenterId, rack RackId, dn *master_pb.DataNodeInfo) {
 		for _, diskInfo := range dn.DiskInfos {
 			for _, v := range diskInfo.VolumeInfos {
-				if collectionRegex.MatchString(v.Collection) && v.RemoteStorageName != "" {
+				if collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) && v.RemoteStorageName != "" {
 					vidMap[v.Id] = true
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_move.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_move.go
index 8e5efb0db..7b8135cad 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_move.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_tier_move.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -18,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/super_block"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/types"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/wdclient"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/needle"
@@ -66,8 +66,9 @@ func (c *commandVolumeTierMove) Help() string {
 	replication setting. Otherwise, the volume's existing replication is preserved.
 
 	Note:
-		Use -collectionPattern="_default" to match only the default collection (volumes with no collection name).
-		Empty collectionPattern matches all collections.
+		-collectionPattern is a comma-separated list of collection names, with "*" and "?"
+		wildcards, and regex patterns. Use "_default" to match only the default collection
+		(volumes with no collection name). An empty pattern matches all collections.
 
 `
 }
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ func (c *commandVolumeTierMove) HasTag(CommandTag) bool {
 func (c *commandVolumeTierMove) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
 	tierCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
-	collectionPattern := tierCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "match with wildcard characters '*' and '?'")
+	collectionPattern := tierCommand.String("collectionPattern", "", "comma-separated collection names, with '*' and '?' wildcards; empty matches all")
 	fullPercentage := tierCommand.Float64("fullPercent", 95, "the volume reaches the percentage of max volume size")
 	quietPeriod := tierCommand.Duration("quietFor", 24*time.Hour, "select volumes without no writes for this period")
 	source := tierCommand.String("fromDiskType", "", "the source disk type")
@@ -561,6 +562,11 @@ func (c *commandVolumeTierMove) ensureReplicationFulfilled(commandEnv *CommandEn
 
 func collectVolumeIdsForTierChange(topologyInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, volumeSizeLimitMb uint64, sourceTier types.DiskType, sourceDataCenter string, collectionPattern string, fullPercentage float64, quietPeriod time.Duration) (vids []needle.VolumeId, err error) {
 
+	collectionMatcher, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(collectionPattern)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	quietSeconds := int64(quietPeriod / time.Second)
 	nowUnixSeconds := time.Now().Unix()
 
@@ -573,22 +579,8 @@ func collectVolumeIdsForTierChange(topologyInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, volumeS
 		}
 		for _, diskInfo := range dn.DiskInfos {
 			for _, v := range diskInfo.VolumeInfos {
-				// check collection name pattern
-				if collectionPattern != "" {
-					var matched bool
-					if collectionPattern == CollectionDefault {
-						matched = v.Collection == ""
-					} else {
-						var matchErr error
-						matched, matchErr = filepath.Match(collectionPattern, v.Collection)
-						if matchErr != nil {
-							err = fmt.Errorf("collection pattern %q failed to match: %w", collectionPattern, matchErr)
-							return
-						}
-					}
-					if !matched {
-						continue
-					}
+				if !collectionMatcher.Matches(v.Collection) {
+					continue
 				}
 
 				if v.ModifiedAtSecond+quietSeconds < nowUnixSeconds && types.ToDiskType(v.DiskType) == sourceTier {
diff --git a/weed/shell/common.go b/weed/shell/common.go
index 147116c98..7ba5f22b5 100644
--- a/weed/shell/common.go
+++ b/weed/shell/common.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package shell
 
 import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -10,8 +11,7 @@ var (
 	// Default number of volumes EC encode/decode process per batch.
 	DefaultEcBatchSize = 10
 	// CollectionDefault is the special keyword to match empty collection names.
-	// Use "_default" to avoid collision with a literal collection named "default".
-	CollectionDefault = "_default"
+	CollectionDefault = wildcard.CollectionDefault
 )
 
 // ErrorWaitGroup lives in weed/util so packages outside the shell can share it.
diff --git a/weed/util/wildcard/collection_filter.go b/weed/util/wildcard/collection_filter.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a00043f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/util/wildcard/collection_filter.go
@@ -0,0 +1,246 @@
+package wildcard
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// CollectionFilterMode controls how collections are interpreted during
+// detection. The two recognized sentinels short-circuit matching:
+//   - CollectionFilterAll: pool every collection together (default).
+//   - CollectionFilterEach: run detection separately per collection.
+//
+// Any other non-empty value is a comma-separated list of collection patterns.
+type CollectionFilterMode string
+
+const (
+	CollectionFilterAll  CollectionFilterMode = "ALL_COLLECTIONS"
+	CollectionFilterEach CollectionFilterMode = "EACH_COLLECTION"
+
+	// CollectionDefault is the entry that matches the empty-named collection.
+	// "_default" avoids colliding with a collection literally named "default".
+	CollectionDefault = "_default"
+)
+
+// regexMetaCharacters mark a filter entry as a regex; "*" and "?" stay wildcards.
+// "." is not one of them: a collection named "my.bucket" is a name, not a
+// pattern that would also match "my-bucket". A "." only counts as regex syntax
+// when it is quantified, as in "bucket.*".
+const regexMetaCharacters = `^$+()[]{}|\`
+
+// CollectionMatcher matches a volume collection against a collection_filter value.
+type CollectionMatcher struct {
+	filter     string
+	matchEmpty bool
+	literals   []string
+	wildcards  []string
+	regexes    []*regexp.Regexp
+}
+
+// CompileCollectionMatcher parses a collection_filter into a matcher. A nil
+// matcher accepts every collection: that is the empty filter, "*", and both
+// mode sentinels. Any other value is a comma-separated list, and a collection
+// passes when one entry matches it. An entry is a name, optionally with "*" and
+// "?" wildcards, CollectionDefault for the empty-named collection, or a regex
+// when it carries regex syntax. A regex entry must match the whole name unless
+// it anchors itself with "^" or "$", and always matches its own spelling too,
+// so a collection named "logs(2024)" stays reachable by name.
+func CompileCollectionMatcher(filter string) (*CollectionMatcher, error) {
+	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(filter)
+	mode := CollectionFilterMode(trimmed)
+	if trimmed == "" || trimmed == "*" || mode == CollectionFilterAll || mode == CollectionFilterEach {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	matcher := &CollectionMatcher{filter: trimmed}
+	for _, entry := range splitCollectionEntries(trimmed) {
+		entry = strings.TrimSpace(entry)
+		if entry == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if entry == CollectionDefault {
+			matcher.matchEmpty = true
+			continue
+		}
+		if !isRegexEntry(entry) {
+			matcher.wildcards = append(matcher.wildcards, entry)
+			continue
+		}
+		pattern := entry
+		if !strings.ContainsAny(entry, "^$") {
+			pattern = "^(?:" + entry + ")$"
+		}
+		compiled, err := regexp.Compile(pattern)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid collection_filter entry %q: %w", entry, err)
+		}
+		matcher.literals = append(matcher.literals, entry)
+		matcher.regexes = append(matcher.regexes, compiled)
+	}
+
+	if !matcher.matchEmpty && len(matcher.wildcards) == 0 && len(matcher.regexes) == 0 {
+		// Only a genuinely empty filter means "every collection". A value like ","
+		// is a typo, and matching everything on it would encode or delete far more
+		// than the operator asked for.
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("collection_filter %q has no collection names", trimmed)
+	}
+	return matcher, nil
+}
+
+// splitCollectionEntries splits a filter on the commas that separate entries.
+// A comma inside a closed regex construct - a character class, a repetition
+// count, or a group - belongs to that construct. An unclosed one is a literal
+// brace or bracket in a name, so the commas after it still separate entries.
+func splitCollectionEntries(filter string) []string {
+	entries := make([]string, 0, 4)
+	start := 0
+	for i := 0; i < len(filter); i++ {
+		switch filter[i] {
+		case '\\':
+			i++
+		case '[':
+			if end := classEnd(filter, i); end > i {
+				i = end
+			}
+		case '{':
+			if end := repeatCountEnd(filter, i); end > i {
+				i = end
+			}
+		case '(':
+			if end := groupEnd(filter, i); end > i {
+				i = end
+			}
+		case ',':
+			entries = append(entries, filter[start:i])
+			start = i + 1
+		}
+	}
+	return append(entries, filter[start:])
+}
+
+// classEnd returns the index of the "]" closing the character class opened at
+// start, or -1 when it is never closed. It follows the regexp parser: a "]"
+// leading the class is a member of it, and a POSIX class such as "[:alpha:]"
+// carries a "]" of its own.
+func classEnd(filter string, start int) int {
+	i := start + 1
+	if i < len(filter) && filter[i] == '^' {
+		i++
+	}
+	if i < len(filter) && filter[i] == ']' {
+		i++
+	}
+	for ; i < len(filter); i++ {
+		switch filter[i] {
+		case '\\':
+			i++
+		case '[':
+			if end := posixClassEnd(filter, i); end > i {
+				i = end
+			}
+		case ']':
+			return i
+		}
+	}
+	return -1
+}
+
+// posixClassEnd returns the index of the "]" closing the POSIX class opened at
+// start, or -1 when start does not open one.
+func posixClassEnd(filter string, start int) int {
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(filter[start:], "[:") {
+		return -1
+	}
+	end := strings.Index(filter[start+2:], ":]")
+	if end < 0 {
+		return -1
+	}
+	return start + 2 + end + 1
+}
+
+// repeatCountEnd returns the index of the "}" closing the repetition count
+// opened at start, or -1 when what follows is not a count.
+func repeatCountEnd(filter string, start int) int {
+	for i := start + 1; i < len(filter); i++ {
+		if filter[i] == '}' {
+			return i
+		}
+		if filter[i] != ',' && (filter[i] < '0' || filter[i] > '9') {
+			return -1
+		}
+	}
+	return -1
+}
+
+// groupEnd returns the index of the ")" closing the group opened at start, or
+// -1 when it is never closed.
+func groupEnd(filter string, start int) int {
+	depth := 0
+	for i := start; i < len(filter); i++ {
+		switch filter[i] {
+		case '\\':
+			i++
+		case '[':
+			// a ")" inside a character class is a literal, not the group's end
+			if end := classEnd(filter, i); end > i {
+				i = end
+			}
+		case '(':
+			depth++
+		case ')':
+			if depth--; depth == 0 {
+				return i
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return -1
+}
+
+// isRegexEntry reports whether an entry carries regex syntax rather than being a
+// plain collection name with optional "*" and "?" wildcards.
+func isRegexEntry(entry string) bool {
+	if strings.ContainsAny(entry, regexMetaCharacters) {
+		return true
+	}
+	for i := 0; i+1 < len(entry); i++ {
+		if entry[i] == '.' && (entry[i+1] == '*' || entry[i+1] == '?') {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// Matches reports whether a collection passes the filter. A nil matcher accepts everything.
+func (m *CollectionMatcher) Matches(collection string) bool {
+	if m == nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	if m.matchEmpty && collection == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	for _, literal := range m.literals {
+		if literal == collection {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	for _, pattern := range m.wildcards {
+		if MatchesWildcard(pattern, collection) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	for _, re := range m.regexes {
+		if re.MatchString(collection) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// String returns the filter this matcher was compiled from.
+func (m *CollectionMatcher) String() string {
+	if m == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return m.filter
+}
diff --git a/weed/util/wildcard/collection_filter_test.go b/weed/util/wildcard/collection_filter_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d11401924
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/util/wildcard/collection_filter_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+package wildcard
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestCompileCollectionMatcher(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		filter  string
+		matches []string
+		misses  []string
+	}{
+		{filter: "", matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
+		{filter: "*", matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
+		{filter: string(CollectionFilterAll), matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
+		{filter: string(CollectionFilterEach), matches: []string{"", "photos"}},
+		{filter: "photos", matches: []string{"photos"}, misses: []string{"", "photos-backup", "myphotos"}},
+		{filter: "collection-a,collection-b", matches: []string{"collection-a", "collection-b"}, misses: []string{"collection-c"}},
+		{filter: " collection-a , collection-b ,", matches: []string{"collection-a", "collection-b"}, misses: []string{"collection-c"}},
+		{filter: "photos*,videos", matches: []string{"photos", "photos-backup", "videos"}, misses: []string{"clips"}},
+		{filter: "photo?", matches: []string{"photos"}, misses: []string{"photo", "photos-backup"}},
+		// A regex entry matches the whole name unless it anchors itself.
+		{filter: "photos|videos", matches: []string{"photos", "videos"}, misses: []string{"photos-backup"}},
+		{filter: "^photos", matches: []string{"photos", "photos-backup"}, misses: []string{"videos"}},
+		{filter: "photos-.*,videos", matches: []string{"photos-backup", "videos"}, misses: []string{"photos"}},
+		// A dot is part of a collection name unless it is quantified.
+		{filter: "my.bucket", matches: []string{"my.bucket"}, misses: []string{"my-bucket", "myxbucket"}},
+		{filter: "my.bucket,videos", matches: []string{"my.bucket", "videos"}, misses: []string{"my-bucket"}},
+		// A name made of regex syntax is still reachable by its own spelling.
+		{filter: "logs(2024)", matches: []string{"logs(2024)", "logs2024"}, misses: []string{"logs"}},
+		// Escaping reaches a name whose regex syntax does not parse on its own.
+		{filter: `logs\(2024`, matches: []string{"logs(2024"}, misses: []string{"logs2024", "logs"}},
+		// A comma inside a character class or a repetition count is not a separator.
+		{filter: "bucket[0-9]{1,3}", matches: []string{"bucket1", "bucket123"}, misses: []string{"bucket", "bucketx", "bucket1234"}},
+		{filter: "[a,b]", matches: []string{"a", "b", ","}, misses: []string{"ab", "c"}},
+		{filter: "bucket[0-9]{1,3},videos", matches: []string{"bucket7", "videos"}, misses: []string{"bucketx"}},
+		{filter: "bucket(foo,bar)", matches: []string{"bucketfoo,bar", "bucket(foo,bar)"}, misses: []string{"bucketfoo"}},
+		{filter: "logs(2024),videos", matches: []string{"logs(2024)", "logs2024", "videos"}, misses: []string{"logs"}},
+		{filter: "(a[)],b)", matches: []string{"a),b"}, misses: []string{"a", "b"}},
+		{filter: "(a[]),],b)", matches: []string{"a],b", "a),b"}, misses: []string{"a,b"}},
+		{filter: "x[[:alpha:],b]y", matches: []string{"xay", "xby", "x,y"}, misses: []string{"xy"}},
+		// A comma separates entries unless it is escaped, so a name holding one is
+		// reachable as "\(a\,b\)".
+		{filter: `\(a\,b\)`, matches: []string{"(a,b)"}, misses: []string{"(a", "b)"}},
+		// An unclosed brace is a literal in a name, so the comma after it still separates.
+		{filter: "foo{bar,videos", matches: []string{"foo{bar", "videos"}, misses: []string{"foo"}},
+		{filter: "foo{2,videos", matches: []string{"foo{2", "videos"}, misses: []string{"foo"}},
+		{filter: CollectionDefault, matches: []string{""}, misses: []string{"photos"}},
+		{filter: "photos," + CollectionDefault, matches: []string{"photos", ""}, misses: []string{"videos"}},
+	}
+
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		matcher, err := CompileCollectionMatcher(c.filter)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("CompileCollectionMatcher(%q): %v", c.filter, err)
+		}
+		for _, collection := range c.matches {
+			if !matcher.Matches(collection) {
+				t.Errorf("filter %q should match collection %q", c.filter, collection)
+			}
+		}
+		for _, collection := range c.misses {
+			if matcher.Matches(collection) {
+				t.Errorf("filter %q should not match collection %q", c.filter, collection)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCompileCollectionMatcherInvalidEntry(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, filter := range []string{"photos,[invalid", ",", ", ,"} {
+		if _, err := CompileCollectionMatcher(filter); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("filter %q should not compile", filter)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/balance/plugin_handler.go b/weed/worker/tasks/balance/plugin_handler.go
index 8ea04427e..a253a3e7b 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/balance/plugin_handler.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/balance/plugin_handler.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/plugin_pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/worker_pb"
 	pluginworker "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/plugin/worker"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	workertypes "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/worker/types"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ func (h *VolumeBalanceHandler) Detect(
 	var results []*workertypes.TaskDetectionResult
 	var hasMore bool
 
-	if pluginworker.CollectionFilterMode(collectionFilter) == pluginworker.CollectionFilterEach {
+	if wildcard.CollectionFilterMode(collectionFilter) == wildcard.CollectionFilterEach {
 		// Group metrics by collection in a single pass (O(N) instead of O(C*N))
 		metricsByCollection := make(map[string][]*workertypes.VolumeHealthMetrics)
 		for _, m := range metrics {
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection.go b/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection.go
index 87db29402..abc6d0a58 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/worker_pb"
-	pluginworker "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/plugin/worker"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding/ecbalancer"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/super_block"
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ func Detection(
 		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("topology info not available")
 	}
 
-	allowedCollections, err := pluginworker.CompileCollectionMatcher(ecConfig.CollectionFilter)
+	allowedCollections, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(ecConfig.CollectionFilter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, false, err
 	}
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ func Detection(
 // per-volume ratio lookup built from each shard's heartbeat (0,0 when unreported,
 // e.g. always in OSS) which Plan prefers over the collection ratio for mixed-ratio
 // clusters.
-func buildBalancerTopology(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, config *Config, allowedCollections *pluginworker.CollectionMatcher) (*ecbalancer.Topology, int, func(collection string, vid uint32) (int, int)) {
+func buildBalancerTopology(topoInfo *master_pb.TopologyInfo, config *Config, allowedCollections *wildcard.CollectionMatcher) (*ecbalancer.Topology, int, func(collection string, vid uint32) (int, int)) {
 	topo := ecbalancer.NewTopology()
 
 	type volRatioKey struct {
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection_test.go b/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection_test.go
index 55facb3bf..2770fdcc8 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection_test.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/ec_balance/detection_test.go
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/master_pb"
-	pluginworker "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/plugin/worker"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding/ecbalancer"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/worker/types"
 )
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestBuildBalancerTopologyGroupsByHost(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuildBalancerTopologyCollectionFilter(t *testing.T) {
 	config := NewDefaultConfig()
 	config.CollectionFilter = "other" // does not match the volume's collection
-	allowed, err := pluginworker.CompileCollectionMatcher(config.CollectionFilter)
+	allowed, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(config.CollectionFilter)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("CompileCollectionMatcher: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/detection.go b/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/detection.go
index bd20737d9..ee73969be 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/detection.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/detection.go
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/volume_server_pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/worker_pb"
-	pluginworker "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/plugin/worker"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding/ecbalancer"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/super_block"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/worker/tasks/base"
 	workerutil "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/worker/tasks/util"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/worker/types"
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func Detection(ctx context.Context, metrics []*types.VolumeHealthMetrics, cluste
 		glog.Warningf("EC Detection: replica placement data-center digit (%d) is ignored for EC; only rack/node digits are honored", replicaPlacement.DiffDataCenterCount)
 	}
 
-	allowedCollections, err := pluginworker.CompileCollectionMatcher(ecConfig.CollectionFilter)
+	allowedCollections, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(ecConfig.CollectionFilter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, false, err
 	}
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/plugin_handler.go b/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/plugin_handler.go
index 1ca7ef94a..03b0a1b6e 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/plugin_handler.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/erasure_coding/plugin_handler.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	pluginworker "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/plugin/worker"
 	ecstorage "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/erasure_coding"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/wildcard"
 	workertypes "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/worker/types"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ func emitErasureCodingDetectionDecisionTrace(
 
 	quietThreshold := time.Duration(taskConfig.QuietForSeconds) * time.Second
 	minSizeBytes := uint64(taskConfig.MinSizeMB) * 1024 * 1024
-	allowedCollections, err := pluginworker.CompileCollectionMatcher(taskConfig.CollectionFilter)
+	allowedCollections, err := wildcard.CompileCollectionMatcher(taskConfig.CollectionFilter)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}