$ perl -le '$_="2|3|||||"; @a = split q(|); print "($_)" for @a'
(2)
(|)
(3)
(|)
(|)
(|)
(|)
(|)

$ perl -le '$_="2|3|||||"; @a = split /|/; print "($_)" for @a'
(2)
(|)
(3)
(|)
(|)
(|)
(|)
(|)