Why does single pipe character confuse java split method?

Question

Try the following:

String[] = "abcde|12345|xyz".split("|");

The results will not be as (at least I..) anticipated.

Using any other character seems to be ok.

String[] = "abcde,12345,xyz".split(",");

So what is special with the pipe?

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 13 '13 at 04:44

15

Java String.split() expects a RegExp and the pipe character has special meaning in RegExps other than a comma. Try the following:

String[] = "abcde|12345|xyz".split("\\|");

answered Sep 13 '13 at 04:44

ced-b

1

figured that one out - but will grant the answer since it includes the solution as well. – WestCoastProjects Sep 13 '13 at 04:49
I am sorry moderators for "Thank you" comment but I was struggling for this piece of solution and finally found it here... – madteapot Apr 30 '14 at 15:39

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 13 '13 at 04:38

7

The split method is expecting a regular expression, and "|" is a special character in regex world: http://www.tutorialspoint.com/java/java_string_split.htm

answered Sep 13 '13 at 04:38

Patrick Collins

aha! interesting it is default to use regex. thx. So.. how does one escape it to do what I want? Oh wait i got it -- need to escape the backslash .. so as such: split("\\|") – WestCoastProjects Sep 13 '13 at 04:40

2 Answers2