.NET string.Split("::") Bug With Duplicate Delimiters

By Robbe Morris

In all my years of programming in C#, I've never run across this nice little bug in string.Split() and duplicate character delimiters.

Until today, I never realized the .Split method of the string object didn't support splits on
duplicate delimiters like :: or ||.   You have to use RegEx and escape any RegEx specific
characters that might be apart of your pattern.  
string[] text = null;

string test = "Note:  This is a string of text :: delimited by a double semi-colon.";

text = test.Split("::".ToCharArray());

Debug.WriteLine(text[0] + "   " + text[1]);

text = System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Split(test, 
       System.Text.RegularExressions.Regex.Escape("::"));

Debug.WriteLine(text[0] + "   " + text[1]);

This code yields the following:

Note This is a string of text
Note: This is a string of text delimited by a double semi-colon.
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Biography - Robbe Morris
Robbe has been a Microsoft MVP in C# since 2004. He is also the co-founder of NullSkull.com which provides .NET articles, book reviews, software reviews, and software download and purchase advice.  Robbe also loves to scuba dive and go deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys or off the coast of Daytona Beach. Microsoft MVP