C# Extension Method - String Split that also accepts an Escape Character

Question

I\'d like to write an extension method for the .NET String class. I\'d like it to be a special varation on the Split method - one that takes an escape character to prevent s

Answer 1

You can try something like this. Although, I would suggest implementing with unsafe code for performance critical tasks.

public static class StringExtensions
{
    public static string[] Split(this string text, char escapeChar, params char[] seperator)
    {
        return Split(text, escapeChar, seperator, int.MaxValue, StringSplitOptions.None);
    }

    public static string[] Split(this string text, char escapeChar, char[] seperator, int count)
    {
        return Split(text, escapeChar, seperator, count, StringSplitOptions.None);
    }

    public static string[] Split(this string text, char escapeChar, char[] seperator, StringSplitOptions options)
    {
        return Split(text, escapeChar, seperator, int.MaxValue, options);
    }

    public static string[] Split(this string text, char escapeChar, char[] seperator, int count, StringSplitOptions options)
    {
        if (text == null)
        {
            throw new ArgumentNullException("text");
        }

        if (text.Length == 0)
        {
            return new string[0];
        }

        var segments = new List();

        bool previousCharIsEscape = false;
        var segment = new StringBuilder();

        for (int i = 0; i < text.Length; i++)
        {
            if (previousCharIsEscape)
            {
                previousCharIsEscape = false;

                if (seperator.Contains(text[i]))
                {
                    // Drop the escape character when it escapes a seperator character.
                    segment.Append(text[i]);
                    continue;
                }

                // Retain the escape character when it escapes any other character.
                segment.Append(escapeChar);
                segment.Append(text[i]);
                continue;
            }

            if (text[i] == escapeChar)
            {
                previousCharIsEscape = true;
                continue;
            }

            if (seperator.Contains(text[i]))
            {
                if (options != StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries || segment.Length != 0)
                {
                    // Only add empty segments when options allow.
                    segments.Add(segment.ToString());
                }

                segment = new StringBuilder();
                continue;
            }

            segment.Append(text[i]);
        }

        if (options != StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries || segment.Length != 0)
        {
            // Only add empty segments when options allow.
            segments.Add(segment.ToString());
        }

        return segments.ToArray();
    }
}