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In C#, the Split() method of the String class is used to split the value of the invoked String object into substrings, by using the delimiter values that are specified by the elements of a String array or a character array.

These split parts i.e. substrings are returned by the Split() method by containing them in a String array, where each split part is individually a String object.

Some versions of Split() method

How the Split() method splits the value of an invoked String

Let us understand the rules on how the Split() method performs the splitting of an invoked String object value to make its substrings:

• Each substring which cannot be matched to the delimiter values makes a substring.


• Each single delimiter value found at the beginning or at the end of an invoked String is replaced by a single empty substring String value.


• Two back-to-back delimiter values found anywhere except beginning or at the end of an invoked String are replaced by a single empty substring String value.


• Each single delimiter value following the two back-to-back delimiter values found anywhere except beginning or at the end of an invoked String is replaced by a single empty substring String value.


• When only a single delimiter value is found anywhere except beginning or at the end of an invoked String, it is not replaced by an empty String value.

Don't worry, if you have not got the rules yet, let us see an example to make this easier.

Example of Split(char[ ]) method

Let us show you an example of an overload version of Split() method i.e. Split(char[ ]), which returns a String array, which contains substrings by splitting the invoked String object, based on the delimiter values that are specified in a char[ ] array.

//C# - Calling the Split(char[ ] delimiters) method

using System;

class StringSplit
{
public static void Main(String[] ar)
{
	//Creating a String object
	String str1= "..Benny...and..Joon...";

	
	//Printing a String object
	Console.WriteLine("Original String is: " + str1);

	
	//Creating a char array to specify the delimiter char values
	char[] chArr = {'.'};

	//Printing the delimiter values	
	Console.Write("The delimiter values specified in a char array: ");
	foreach(char ch in chArr)
		Console.WriteLine(ch);
	
	//Splitting the value in a String object with the delimiter char values
	//Specified in a char array, chArr
	String[] substrings = str1.Split(chArr);



	//Extracting and printing the substrings in a String array
	Console.WriteLine("Total number of substring after splitting : " + substrings.Length);
	foreach(String str2 in substrings)
		Console.WriteLine("'" + str2 + "'");
}
}

Output is :

Original String is: ..Benny...and..Joon...
The delimiter values specified in a char array: .
Total number of substring after splitting : 11
''
''
'Benny'
''
''
'and'
''
'Joon'
''
''
''

Program Analysis

By following the above mentioned rules on our program, we have split the value in a String object value "..Benny...and..Joon..." into 11 parts by using a single delimiter value . specified in a char[ ] array.

Out of 11 substrings you see in the output, many are empty String values, here's the explanation behind them:

• The two delimiter values .. at the beginning and the three delimiter values ... at the end are each replaced by an empty string value.
• For three back-to-back delimiter values ... in the middle after Benny, the first two back-to-back delimiter values are each replaced by a single empty String value and the third single delimiter value is replaced by a single empty String value.
• Two back-to-back delimiter values .. in the middle after and are replaced by a single empty String value.

Example of Split(char[ ], int total) method

Let us show you an example of an overload version of Split() method i.e. Split(char[ ], int total), which returns a String array, which contains the substrings by splitting the invoked String object, based on the delimiter values that are specified in a char[ ] array.

The second parameter total represents the maximum number of substrings to return.

//C# - Calling the Split(char[ ] delimiters, int total) method

using System;

class StringSplit
{
public static void Main(String[] ar)
{
	//Creating a String object
	String str1= "..Benny...and..Joon...";

	
	//Printing a String object
	Console.WriteLine("Original String is: " + str1);

	
	//Creating a char array to specify the delimiter char values
	char[] chArr = {'.', 'n'};

	//Printing the delimiter values	
	Console.Write("The delimiter values specified in a char array: ");
	foreach(char ch in chArr)
		Console.WriteLine(ch);
	
	//Splitting the value in the invoked String object into 5 substrings with the delimiter char values
	//Specified in a char array, chArr
	String[] substrings = str1.Split(chArr, 5);


	//Extracting and printing the substrings in a String array
	Console.WriteLine("Total number of substring after splitting : " + substrings.Length);
	foreach(String str2 in substrings)
		Console.WriteLine("'" + str2 + "'");
}
}

Output is :

Original String is: ..Benny...and..Joon...
The delimiter values specified in a char array: .
n
Total number of substring after splitting : 5
''
''
'Be'
''
'y...and..Joon...'

Program Analysis

By calling the Split(char[], int) version, we have split the String object value "..Benny...and..Joon..." into 5 parts by using the delimiter value . and n, which are specified in a char[ ] array.

• The two delimiter values .. at the beginning are each replaced by an empty string value, which gives us first two substrings.
• Next, the word Be gives us our 3rd substring, followed by the two back-to-back delimiter values nn in the middle after Be, are replaced by a single empty String value, which gives us our 4th substring.
• The leftover String value makes the 5th substring.

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Example of Split(String[ ], StringSplitOptions) method

Let us show you an example of an overload version of Split() method i.e. Split(String[ ], StringSplitOptions), which returns a String array, which contains substrings by splitting the invoked String object, based on the delimiter values that are specified in a String[ ] array.

You can specify whether the substrings include empty array elements by specifying fields of StringSplitOptions Enum. Its all important 2 fields are explained below.

Fields of StringSplitOptions	Value	Description
None	0	The return value includes array elements that contain an empty string.
RemoveEmptyEntries	1	The return value does not include the array elements that contain an empty string.

//C# - Calling the Split(String[ ], StringSplitOptions) method

using System;

class StringSplit
{
public static void Main(String[] ar)
{
	//Creating a String object
	String str1= "Foooo and boo go to doooo and moo";

	
	//Printing a String object
	Console.WriteLine("Original String is: " + str1);

	
	//Creating a String array to specify the delimiter String values
	//which specifies a delimiter value of space 
	String[] strArr = {"oo"};

	//Printing the delimiter values	
	Console.Write("The delimiter values specified in a String array: ");
	foreach(String str in strArr)
		Console.WriteLine(str);
	
	//Splitting the value in a String object with the delimiter String values
	//Specified in a String array, strArr
	//based on the StringSplitOptions.None, which doesn't remove the empty String substrings.
	String[] substrings = str1.Split(strArr, StringSplitOptions.None);



	//Extracting and printing the substrings in a String array
	Console.WriteLine("Total number of substring after splitting: " + substrings.Length);
	foreach(String str2 in substrings)
		Console.WriteLine("'" + str2 + "'");


	//Splitting the value in a String object with the delimiter String values
	//Specified in a String array, strArr
	//based on the StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries, which removes the empty String substrings.
	substrings = str1.Split(strArr, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);



	//Extracting and printing the substrings in a String array
	Console.WriteLine("Total number of substrings after removing the empty substrings: " + substrings.Length);
	foreach(String str2 in substrings)
		Console.WriteLine("'" + str2 + "'");
}
}

Output is :

Original String is: Foooo and boo go to doooo and moo
The delimiter values specified in a String array: oo
Total number of substring after splitting: 7
'F'
''
' and b'
' go to d'
''
' and m'
''
Total number of substrings after removing the empty substrings: 4
'F'
' and b'
' go to d'
' and m'

Program Analysis

• By following the mentioned rules by which the Split() method performs splitting of the invoked String object value, we have split the value in a String object value "Foooo and boo go to doooo and moo" into 7 parts by using a single delimiter value oo specified in a String[ ] array, when the None field of the StringSplitOptions was applied(which does not remove the empty substrings).



• On the next call to the Split method, it has split the value in a String object value "Foooo and boo go to doooo and moo" into 4 parts by using a single delimiter value oo specified in a String[ ] array, when the RemoeEmptyEntries field of the StringSplitOptions was applied(which does remove the empty substrings).

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