title: How to split String without regex
body: <p>In my Java application I need to find indices and split strings using the <strong>same</strong> "target" for both occasions. The target is simply a dot.</p>
  
  <p>Finding indices (by indexOf and lastIndexOf) does not use regex, so</p>
  
  <pre><code>String target = ".";
  String someString = "123.456";
  int index = someString.indexOf(target); // index == 3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>gives me the index I need.</p>
  
  <p>However, I also want to use this "target" to split some strings. But now the target string is interpreted as a regex string. So I can't use the same target string as before when I want to split a string...</p>
  
  <pre><code>String target = ".";
  String someString = "123.456";
  String[] someStringSplit = someString.split(target); // someStringSplit is an empty array
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So I need either of the following:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>A way to split into an array by a non-regex target</li>
  <li>A way to "convert" a non-regex target string into a regex string</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Can someone help? Would you agree that it seems a bit odd of the standard java platform to use regex for "split" while not using regex for "indexOf"?</p>