Splitting a string in C#

Question

I am trying to split a string in C# the following way:

Incoming string is in the form

string str = \"[message details in here][another message here]/         


        

Answer 1

The Split method returns sub strings between the instances of the pattern specified. For example:

var items = Regex.Split("this is a test", @"\s");

Results in the array [ "this", "is", "a", "test" ].

The solution is to use Matches instead.

var matches =  Regex.Matches(str, @"\[[^[]+\]");

You can then use Linq to easily get an array of matched values:

var split = matches.Cast<Match>()
                   .Select(m => m.Value)
                   .ToArray();

Answer 2

Use the Regex.Matches method instead:

string[] result =
  Regex.Matches(str, @"\[.*?\]").Cast<Match>().Select(m => m.Value).ToArray();

Answer 3

Instead of using a regex you could use the Split method on the string like so

Split(new[] { '\n', '[', ']' }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)

You'll loose [ and ] around your results with this method but it's not hard to add them back in as needed.

Answer 4

Another option would be to use lookaround assertions for your splitting.

e.g.

string[] split = Regex.Split(str, @"(?<=\])(?=\[)");

This approach effectively splits on the void between a closing and opening square bracket.