Array slice a split or a regex capture perhaps 
$_ = 'index.html';
print( (split /\./)[0], $/,
       /^([a-z]+)\./,   $/);

__output__
index
index

[download]
See. split, perlre and perlop for more info on the behaviour above.
HTH

_________
broquaint

update: changed to grabbing before the dot (i.e not extension)

In reply to Re: a small help in split by broquaint
in thread a small help in split by Anonymous Monk

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