my $parent = 'xxx xxx xxx';
my $count = my @items = split(/ /, $parent);
print "$count\n";  # 3

##</code><code>##

if    ($count < 1) { print "None\n";   }
elsif ($count < 2) { print "Unique\n"; } 
else               { print "$count\n"; }

##</code><code>##

my $parent = 'xxx yyy xxx zzz';

##</code><code>##

my $substring = 'xxx';
my $parent = 'xxx yyy xxx zzz';
my @count = split($substring,$parent);
my $total = $#count + 1;
print "there are $total $substring in $parent\n";   # XXX 3

##</code><code>##

my $substring = 'xxx';
my $parent = 'xxx yyy xxx zzz';
my $count = () = $parent =~ /\Q$substring/;
if    ($count < 1) { print "None\n";   }
elsif ($count < 2) { print "Unique\n"; } 
else               { print "$count\n"; }