Convert Comma-Separated Strings to String Arrays

String.Split Method

The Split method requires a parameter containing a character array. Each item in the array is a potential delimiting character. Handily, the parameter is a Parameter Array. This allows multiple characters to be included directly in the method without initialising the array beforehand.

The following code splits a comma-separated list:

string fruit = "Apple,Banana,Orange,Strawberry";

string[] split = fruit.Split(',');

foreach (string item in split)

{

    Console.WriteLine(item);

}

     

/* OUTPUT

Apple

Banana

Orange

Strawberry

*/

The following example is similar but this time the delimiting characters are the bar (|) and the comma. Both cause the generation of an additional result in the array.

string fruit = "Apple|Banana,Orange|Strawberry";

string[] split = fruit.Split('|', ',');

foreach (string item in split)

{

    Console.WriteLine(item);

}

/* OUTPUT

Apple

Banana

Orange

Strawberry

*/