title: In JavaScript, what does the notation /\s*;\s*/ mean?
body: <p>In the following example, what does the notation <code>/\s*;\s*/</code> mean? It is used as the separator in the <code>string.split()</code> command.</p>
  
  <pre><code>var names = 'Harry Trump ;Fred Barney; Helen Rigby ; Bill Abel ;Chris Hand ';
  
  console.log(names);
  
  var re = /\s*;\s*/;
  
  var nameList = names.split(re);
  
  console.log(nameList);
  </code></pre>