Parsing a SQL field in a query - sql

Question

I've inherited a database of user profile information which has a column for personal interests. Multiple interests are separated by a pipe (|). In a SQL query, how can I split a field with this value: 2|27|33|14|15
To look like this:
2
27
33
14
15

Answer 1

The exact syntax depends on which dbms you are using. Assuming you are using MSSQL this is the general syntax
STRING_SPLIT ( string , separator )
For example
DECLARE #string_to_be_split NVARCHAR(400) = '2|27|33|14|15'
SELECT value
FROM STRING_SPLIT(#string_to_be_split, '|')
WHERE RTRIM(value) <> '';

Answer 2

Edit - Could have sworn that I saw SQL Server
If not 2016, just about any Split/Parse Function will do.
Option 1 - With UDF
Declare #YourTable table (ID int,Interests varchar(250))
Insert Into #YourTable values
(1,'2|27|33|14|15')
Select A.ID
,B.*
From #YourTable A
Cross Apply [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse](A.Interests,'|') B
Option 2 - Without a UDF
Select A.ID
,B.*
From #YourTable A
Cross Apply (
Select RetSeq = Row_Number() over (Order By (Select null))
,RetVal = LTrim(RTrim(B.i.value('(./text())[1]', 'varchar(max)')))
From (Select x = Cast('<x>' + replace((Select replace(A.Interests,'|','§§Split§§') as [*] For XML Path('')),'§§Split§§','</x><x>')+'</x>' as xml).query('.')) as X
Cross Apply x.nodes('x') AS B(i)
) B
Both Return
ID RetSeq RetVal
1 1 2
1 2 27
1 3 33
1 4 14
1 5 15
The UDF if Interested
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse] (#String varchar(max),#Delimiter varchar(10))
Returns Table
As
Return (
Select RetSeq = Row_Number() over (Order By (Select null))
,RetVal = LTrim(RTrim(B.i.value('(./text())[1]', 'varchar(max)')))
From (Select x = Cast('<x>' + replace((Select replace(#String,#Delimiter,'§§Split§§') as [*] For XML Path('')),'§§Split§§','</x><x>')+'</x>' as xml).query('.')) as X
Cross Apply x.nodes('x') AS B(i)
);
--Thanks Shnugo for making this XML safe
--Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse]('Dog,Cat,House,Car',',')
--Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse]('John Cappelletti was here',' ')
--Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse]('this,is,<test>,for,< & >',',')