It's easier to do this with m//g than split. @list = $string =~ /"[^"]+"|\S+/g @list = grep defined, $string =~ /"([^"]*)"|(\S+)/g; Update: don't leave quotes on; allow empty string ""

Doesn't handle backslashes before " specially; if there is an unmatched " in the input, you'll get one it returned as part of an element.

In reply to Re: In need of a stupid regex trick by ysth
in thread In need of a stupid regex trick by 87C751

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