---
name: "Perl::Critic::Policy::BuiltinFunctions::ProhibitStringySplit"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-perl-critic"
version: "1.156-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Perl::Critic::Policy::BuiltinFunctions::ProhibitStringySplit"
---

# Perl::Critic::Policy::BuiltinFunctions::ProhibitStringySplit(3pm)

Write "split /-/, $string" instead of "split '-', $string".

## NAME

Perl::Critic::Policy::BuiltinFunctions::ProhibitStringySplit - Write "split /-/, $string" instead of "split '-', $string".

## AFFILIATION

This Policy is part of the core Perl::Critic distribution.

## DESCRIPTION

The `"split"` function always interprets the PATTERN argument as a regular expression, even if you specify it as a string.  This causes much confusion if the string contains regex metacharacters.  So for clarity, always express the PATTERN argument as a regex.

```
    $string = 'Fred|Barney';
    @names = split '|', $string; #not ok, is ('F', 'r', 'e', 'd', '|', 'B', 'a' ...)
    @names = split m/[|]/, $string; #ok, is ('Fred', Barney')
```

When the PATTERN is a single space the `"split"` function has special behavior, so Perl::Critic forgives that usage.  See `"perldoc -f` `split"` for more information.

## CONFIGURATION

This Policy is not configurable except for the standard options.

## SEE ALSO

Perl::Critic::Policy::BuiltinFunctions::RequireBlockGrep

Perl::Critic::Policy::BuiltinFunctions::RequireBlockMap

## AUTHOR

Jeffrey Ryan Thalhammer \<jeff@imaginative-software.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2005-2011 Imaginative Software Systems.  All rights reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.  The full text of this license can be found in the LICENSE file included with this module.