Convert variable into array

I have a requirement to send my variable to array. I have something like this: ``` var = "abc|xyz|123"; ``` I want to have the above values in an array. ``` $arr[0]="abc"; $arr[1]="xyz"; $arr[2]="123"; ``` I used the following way, but I am not getting the array size while using this way: ``` $var = "abc|xyz|123"; $var =~ tr/|/\n/; # transforming "|" to new line "\n" @a = $var; print $a[0]; ``` The complete transformed output is sent to only variable instead of individual variables.