In list context (as you have here), no elements are removed so none are returned: resulting in an empty list. This holds true for splice() - Perl v5.14 and back as far as splice() - Perl v5.8 (maybe earlier versions as well).

While possibly considered pedantic, you show no terminating semicolon. Look closely at surrounding code: is this the entire statement or just part of a larger construct?

Update: s/split/splice/ (2 instances) - thanks AnomalousMonk.

-- Ken

In reply to Re: Unusual (and pointless?) idiom in old code by kcott
in thread Unusual (and pointless?) idiom in old code by ajmalton

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