re.compile().split(): why it produces empty string as a first element of the list

[alf]

Fredrik Lundh wrote:
> alf wrote:
> 
>> Let's run following:
>>
>>  >>> re.compile('(\[.*?\])').split('[aa]bb[11]22')
>> ['', '[aa]', 'bb', '[11]', '22']
>>
>> Why does it return '' as a first element of the list?
> 
> 
> because the string starts with a separator.
> 
> </F>
> 
so is it safe to say that the index of separator in the list is always 
an odd number?

-- 
alfz1