C# Program to split a string on spaces

In C#, the Split() method is used to divide a string into an array of substrings based on a specified delimiter. When splitting a string on spaces, we use the space character ' ' as the delimiter.

Syntax

Following is the syntax for splitting a string on spaces −

string[] result = str.Split(' ');

You can also use the overloaded version with options −

string[] result = str.Split(' ', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);

Parameters

• separator − The character used to split the string (space character ' ' in this case).

• options − Optional parameter to specify split behavior such as removing empty entries.

Return Value

The Split() method returns a string[] array containing the substrings separated by the specified delimiter.

Using Split() with Single Space

Example

using System;

class Program {
    static void Main() {
        string str = "Science and Mathematics";
        Console.WriteLine("Original String: " + str);
        
        string[] words = str.Split(' ');
        Console.WriteLine("\nSplit Result:");
        
        for (int i = 0; i < words.Length; i++) {
            Console.WriteLine("Index " + i + ": " + words[i]);
        }
    }
}

The output of the above code is −

Original String: Science and Mathematics

Split Result:
Index 0: Science
Index 1: and
Index 2: Mathematics

Handling Multiple Spaces

When a string contains multiple consecutive spaces, the Split() method creates empty entries. You can use StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries to avoid this −

Example

using System;

class Program {
    static void Main() {
        string str = "Hello    World   C#";
        Console.WriteLine("Original String: '" + str + "'");
        
        // Without removing empty entries
        string[] wordsWithEmpty = str.Split(' ');
        Console.WriteLine("\nWith empty entries:");
        foreach (string word in wordsWithEmpty) {
            Console.WriteLine("'" + word + "'");
        }
        
        // Removing empty entries
        string[] wordsClean = str.Split(' ', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
        Console.WriteLine("\nWithout empty entries:");
        foreach (string word in wordsClean) {
            Console.WriteLine("'" + word + "'");
        }
    }
}

The output of the above code is −

Original String: 'Hello    World   C#'

With empty entries:
'Hello'
''
''
''
'World'
''
''
'C#'

Without empty entries:
'Hello'
'World'
'C#'

Using Split() with Multiple Delimiters

You can split on multiple characters including spaces, tabs, and other whitespace characters −

Example

using System;

class Program {
    static void Main() {
        string str = "Apple,Banana Orange;Grape\tMango";
        Console.WriteLine("Original String: " + str);
        
        char[] delimiters = {' ', ',', ';', '\t'};
        string[] fruits = str.Split(delimiters, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
        
        Console.WriteLine("\nExtracted words:");
        foreach (string fruit in fruits) {
            Console.WriteLine(fruit);
        }
    }
}

The output of the above code is −

Original String: Apple,Banana Orange;Grape	Mango

Extracted words:
Apple
Banana
Orange
Grape
Mango

Conclusion

The Split() method in C# is an effective way to break strings into arrays based on delimiters like spaces. Use StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries when dealing with multiple consecutive spaces to avoid empty elements in the result array.