# Expression Split function does not recognize full stop character **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition81\ **Created:** [November 7, 2024, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/expression-split-function-does-not-recognize-full-stop-character/98323 "2024-11-07T07:49:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![liam1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e68b1a/32.png) [@liam1](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/liam1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/expression-split-function-does-not-recognize-full-stop-character/98323/1 "2024-11-07T07:49:48Z")
Using the split function in expression with the '.' character return a empty dataset ```python split("[default]Process/P_01/INLETW/02_WAP/12PC05/Sts/Value.EngHigh",".") ``` ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/4/5/455cc822fc092b78098d79e7b048e96a8d258b50.png) ```python split("[default]Process/P_01/INLETW/02_WAP/12PC05/Sts/Value.EngHigh","/") ``` ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/1/7/1796dcd4eba18d053cb53033ef32774dd1612a89.png) This looks like a bug. Using Ignition Version 8.1.43 (b2024082010) ---
**Author:** ![deon.korb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@deon.korb](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/deon.korb)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 8:40am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/expression-split-function-does-not-recognize-full-stop-character/98323/2 "2024-11-07T08:40:19Z")
The `split()` expression splits on a regex, not a character. The . is not interpreted as a . > **[split | Ignition User Manual](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.1/appendix/expression-functions/string/split)** > > Takes the starting string and splits it into substrings It works if you escape the . like so: ```python split("[default]Process/P_01/INLETW/02_WAP/12PC05/Sts/Value.EngHigh","\\.") ```