How to Split Comma-Separated Text While Ignoring Commas Within Quotes in Java?

Splitting Comma-Separated Text Ignoring Commas within Quotes

Parsing text containing comma-separated values can be challenging when certain values contain commas within quotes. Utilizing Java's String.split method with a simple comma delimiter often results in split values that include these quoted commas. This issue warrants a solution that distinguishes between commas outside and within quotes.

The solution to this problem lies in regular expressions. The following Java code snippet provides a comprehensive solution:

String[] arr = str.split(",(?=(?:[^\"]*\"[^\"]*\")*[^\"]*$)");

This regular expression splits the string based on commas that are not immediately followed by an even number of double quotes. The detailed explanation of the regular expression is as follows:

• ,(?=: Splits the string on commas that are followed by a look-ahead expression.

• (?=(?:[^"]*"[^"]*")*[^"]*$): The look-ahead expression ensures that the comma is followed by an even number of double quotes.

  • [^"]*: Matches zero or more non-quote characters.
  • "[^"]*": Matches a pair of double quotes with non-quote characters in between.
  • *: Matches the preceding expression zero or more times (even number of double quotes).
  • [^"]*$: Ensures that the look-ahead expression matches until the end of the string, preventing every comma from triggering the split.

By using this regular expression, you can effectively split comma-separated text, ignoring commas within double quotes. This approach allows you to parse text in a reliable manner, ensuring that quoted values remain intact.

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