Because split throws away the parts that matched unless you tell it to keep them, 

perl -e'print scalar split /(:)/, q(:)'
2

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It turns out that capturing forces one element before the separator. ':' is in the second array slot.

After Compline,
Zaxo

In reply to Re: split empty (lead|trail)ing fields by Zaxo
in thread split empty (lead|trail)ing fields by Anonymous Monk

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