$_ = '1,,3,4,,,';       # a string of 7 possible values
  
@a = split(',');

print scalar(@a) . " items in the array\n"; # Sure wish this was 7

print "The second item is $a[1]\n"; # sure wish this was null

foreach (@a) {
        ++$count;
        print "Item $count is $_\n";
}