print "($_)\n" for split(/\|/, "2|3|||||");
__END__
(2)
(3)

print "($_)\n" for split('|', "2|3|||||");
__END__
(2)
(|)
(3)
(|)
(|)
(|)
(|)
(|)

C:\> perl -v
This is perl, v5.6.1 built for MSWin32-x86-multi-thread
(with 1 registered patch, see perl -V for more detail)

Copyright 1987-2001, Larry Wall

Binary build 631 provided by ActiveState Tool Corp. http://www.ActiveState.com
Built 17:16:22 Jan  2 2002