the best way to separate a string into words

Anonymous Monk has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi, what would be the best(easier to read the code) way to separate a string "word word word word" into an array of words? (Words are separated by space characters)

Comment on the best way to separate a string into words

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Re: the best way to separate a string into words by jeffa (Bishop) on Jan 19, 2009 at 19:16 UTC
`my @array = split( /\s+/, $string );` [download] jeffa L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L-- -R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B-- H---H---H---H---H---H--- (the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: the best way to separate a string into words by repellent (Priest) on Jan 19, 2009 at 19:48 UTC
It'd probably be best to split using the magical `' '`. `my $string = " a b c "; # note leading/trailing whitespaces my @array1 = split /\s+/, $string; # returns '', 'a', 'b', 'c' (4 item +s) my @array2 = split ' ', $string; # returns 'a', 'b', 'c' (3 item +s)` [download]	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^2: the best way to separate a string into words by derby (Abbot) on Jan 19, 2009 at 19:31 UTC
I'd go with the \W+ ... but I guess it all depends on how you define a word. -derby	[reply]
Re^3: the best way to separate a string into words by jeffa (Bishop) on Jan 19, 2009 at 19:55 UTC
I might too, but the OP defined words as "separated by space characters" jeffa L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L-- -R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B-- H---H---H---H---H---H--- (the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)	[reply]
Re^4: the best way to separate a string into words by derby (Abbot) on Jan 19, 2009 at 19:59 UTC
Re: the best way to separate a string into words by borisz (Canon) on Jan 19, 2009 at 19:19 UTC
split is the most easy way. Boris	[reply]
Re: the best way to separate a string into words by Tanktalus (Canon) on Jan 20, 2009 at 00:13 UTC
Generally, I use Text::ParseWords. But that's because I like the option for the user to pass in `word "some phrase" word` to get only three "words" out of it, basically allowing a form of escaping on spaces that makes sense. This isn't a whole lot more complicated than using split `' ', $string`, but offers huge amounts of extra flexibility. Whether you do this or not is dependant on whether you want that flexibility or not.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: the best way to separate a string into words (contractions) by tye (Sage) on Jan 20, 2009 at 02:11 UTC
For one definition of "split" and "words", I'd use: `my @words= $string =~ /(\w+(?:'\w+))/g;` [download] Which would give you words like `qw( split and words I'd use )` not like `qw( "split" and "words", )` nor like `qw( words I d use )`. Update:* Or even, allow hyphenated-word capturing: `my @words= $string =~ /(\w+(?:[-']\w+)*)/g;` [download] - tye	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: the best way to separate a string into words by GrandFather (Saint) on Jan 19, 2009 at 19:46 UTC
If you are natural language processing you will find the Lingua modules very useful. Perl's payment curve coincides with its learning curve.	[reply]
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