String.Split Method (array<Char[], StringSplitOptions)

Parameters

• separator
  Type: array<System.Char[]
  An array of Unicode characters that delimit the substrings in this string, an empty array that contains no delimiters, or nulla null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).

• options
  Type: System.StringSplitOptions
  A flag that indicates whether to include empty elements in the returned array. Specify StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries to omit empty elements from the returned array. Specify StringSplitOptions.None to include empty elements in the returned array.

Return Value

Type: array<System.String[]
An array whose elements contain the substrings in this string that are delimited by one or more characters in separator. For more information, see the Remarks section.

Dim phrase As String = "The quick brown fox"
Dim words() As String

words = phrase.Split(TryCast(Nothing, Char()),  
                       StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)

words = phrase.Split(New Char() {}, 
                     StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)

string phrase = "The quick  brown fox";
string[] words;

words = phrase.Split(default(Char[]), StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);

words = phrase.Split((char[])null, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);

words = phrase.Split(null as char[], StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);

Class Example
   Public Shared Sub Demo(ByVal outputBlock As System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock)
      Dim s1 As String = ",ONE,,TWO,,,THREE,,"
      Dim s2 As String = "[stop]" & _
                         "ONE[stop][stop]" & _
                         "TWO[stop][stop][stop]" & _
                         "THREE[stop][stop]"
      Dim charSeparators() As Char = {","c}
      Dim stringSeparator() As String = {"[stop]"}
      Dim result() As String
      ' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      ' Split a string delimited by characters.
      ' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      outputBlock.Text &= "1) Split a string delimited by characters:" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf

      ' Display the original string and delimiter characters.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("1a )The original string is ""{0}"".", s1) & vbCrLf
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("The delimiter character is '{0}'." & vbCrLf, charSeparators(0)) & vbCrLf

      ' Split a string delimited by characters and return all elements.
      outputBlock.Text &= "1b) Split a string delimited by characters and " & _
                        "return all elements:"
      result = s1.Split(charSeparators, StringSplitOptions.None)
      Show(outputBlock, result)

      ' Split a string delimited by characters and return all non-empty elements.
      outputBlock.Text &= "1c) Split a string delimited by characters and " & _
                        "return all non-empty elements:"
      result = s1.Split(charSeparators, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
      Show(outputBlock, result)

      ' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      ' Split a string delimited by another string.
      ' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      outputBlock.Text &= "2) Split a string delimited by another string:" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf

      ' Display the original string and delimiter string.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("2a) The original string is ""{0}"".", s2) & vbCrLf
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("The delimiter string is ""{0}""." & vbCrLf, stringSeparator(0)) & vbCrLf

      ' Split a string delimited by another string and return all elements.
      outputBlock.Text &= "2b) Split a string delimited by another string and " & _
                        "return all elements:"
      result = s2.Split(stringSeparator, StringSplitOptions.None)
      Show(outputBlock, result)

      ' Split the original string at the delimiter and return all non-empty elements.
      outputBlock.Text &= "2c) Split a string delimited by another string and " & _
                        "return all non-empty elements:"
      result = s2.Split(stringSeparator, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
      Show(outputBlock, result)
   End Sub 

   ' Display the array of separated strings.
   Public Shared Sub Show(ByVal outputBlock As System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock, ByVal entries() As String)
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("The return value contains these {0} elements:", entries.Length) & vbCrLf
      Dim entry As String
      For Each entry In entries
         outputBlock.Text += String.Format("<{0}>", entry)
      Next entry
      outputBlock.Text &= vbCrLf & vbCrLf

   End Sub 
End Class 
'
'This example produces the following results:
'
'1) Split a string delimited by characters:
'
'1a )The original string is ",ONE,,TWO,,,THREE,,".
'The delimiter character is ','.
'
'1b) Split a string delimited by characters and return all elements:
'The return value contains these 9 elements:
'<><ONE><><TWO><><><THREE><><>
'
'1c) Split a string delimited by characters and return all non-empty elements:
'The return value contains these 3 elements:
'<ONE><TWO><THREE>
'
'2) Split a string delimited by another string:
'
'2a) The original string is "[stop]ONE[stop][stop]TWO[stop][stop][stop]THREE[stop][stop]".
'The delimiter string is "[stop]".
'
'2b) Split a string delimited by another string and return all elements:
'The return value contains these 9 elements:
'<><ONE><><TWO><><><THREE><><>
'
'2c) Split a string delimited by another string and return all non-empty elements:
'The return value contains these 3 elements:
'<ONE><TWO><THREE>
'

using System;

class Example
{
   public static void Demo(System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock outputBlock)
   {
      string s1 = ",ONE,,TWO,,,THREE,,";
      string s2 = "[stop]" +
                  "ONE[stop][stop]" +
                  "TWO[stop][stop][stop]" +
                  "THREE[stop][stop]";
      char[] charSeparators = { ',' };
      string[] stringSeparator = {"[stop]"};
      string[] result;
      // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      // Split a string delimited by characters.
      // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      outputBlock.Text += "1) Split a string delimited by characters:\n" + "\n";

      // Display the original string and delimiter characters.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("1a )The original string is \"{0}\".", s1) + "\n";
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("The delimiter character is '{0}'.\n",
                         charSeparators[0]) + "\n";

      // Split a string delimited by characters and return all elements.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("1b) Split a string delimited by characters and " +
                        "return all elements:") + "\n";
      result = s1.Split(charSeparators, StringSplitOptions.None);
      Show(outputBlock, result);

      // Split a string delimited by characters and return all non-empty elements.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("1c) Split a string delimited by characters and " +
                        "return all non-empty elements:") + "\n";
      result = s1.Split(charSeparators, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
      Show(outputBlock, result);

      // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      // Split a string delimited by another string.
      // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      outputBlock.Text += "2) Split a string delimited by another string:\n" + "\n";

      // Display the original string and delimiter string.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("2a) The original string is \"{0}\".", s2) + "\n";
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("The delimiter string is \"{0}\".\n", stringSeparator[0]) + "\n";

      // Split a string delimited by another string and return all elements.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("2b) Split a string delimited by another string and " +
                        "return all elements:") + "\n";
      result = s2.Split(stringSeparator, StringSplitOptions.None);
      Show(outputBlock, result);

      // Split the original string at the delimiter and return all non-empty elements.
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("2c) Split a string delimited by another string and " +
                        "return all non-empty elements:") + "\n";
      result = s2.Split(stringSeparator, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
      Show(outputBlock, result);
   }

   // Display the array of separated strings.
   public static void Show(System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock outputBlock, string[] entries)
   {
      outputBlock.Text += String.Format("The return value contains these {0} elements:", entries.Length) + "\n";
      foreach (string entry in entries)
      {
         outputBlock.Text += String.Format("<{0}>", entry);
      }
      outputBlock.Text += "\n\n";
   }
}
/*
This example produces the following results:

1) Split a string delimited by characters:

1a )The original string is ",ONE,,TWO,,,THREE,,".
The delimiter character is ','.

1b) Split a string delimited by characters and return all elements:
The return value contains these 9 elements:
<><ONE><><TWO><><><THREE><><>

1c) Split a string delimited by characters and return all non-empty elements:
The return value contains these 3 elements:
<ONE><TWO><THREE>

2) Split a string delimited by another string:

2a) The original string is "[stop]ONE[stop][stop]TWO[stop][stop][stop]THREE[stop][stop]".
The delimiter string is "[stop]".

2b) Split a string delimited by another string and return all elements:
The return value contains these 9 elements:
<><ONE><><TWO><><><THREE><><>

2c) Split a string delimited by another string and return all non-empty elements:
The return value contains these 3 elements:
<ONE><TWO><THREE>

*/