05_split.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
  </head>
  <body>
    <script>
      var names = 'Harry Trump ;Fred Barney; Helen Rigby ; Bill Abel ;Chris Hand ';

      var re = /\s*;\s*/;
      var nameList = names.split(re);

      // [ "Harry Trump", "Fred Barney", "Helen Rigby", "Bill Abel", "Chris Hand " ]
      console.log(nameList);

    </script>
  </body>
</html>