http://blog.fedecarg.com/2009/02/22/mysql-split-string-function/
MySQL does not include a function to split a delimited string. However, it’s very easy to create your own function.
Create function syntax
A user-defined function is a way to extend MySQL with a new function that works like a native MySQL function.
CREATE [AGGREGATE] FUNCTION function_name RETURNS {STRING|INTEGER|REAL|DECIMAL}
To create a function, you must have the INSERT privilege for the <mysql> database.
Split delimited strings
The following example function takes 3 parameters, performs an operation using an SQL function, and returns the result.
Function
CREATE FUNCTION SPLIT_STR( x VARCHAR(255), delim VARCHAR(12), pos INT ) RETURNS VARCHAR(255) RETURN REPLACE(SUBSTRING(SUBSTRING_INDEX(x, delim, pos), LENGTH(SUBSTRING_INDEX(x, delim, pos -1)) + 1), delim, '');
Usage
SELECT SPLIT_STR(string, delimiter, position)
Example
SELECT SPLIT_STR('a|bb|ccc|dd', '|', 3) as third; +-------+ | third | +-------+ | ccc | +-------+