code: public String[] getArrayFilter(String key) {
          String value = filters.get(key);
          if (value == null)
              return null;
          String[] array = new String[0];
          if (value.startsWith("[")) {
              if (value.length() > 2)
                  array = value.substring(1, value.length() - 1).split(",");
          }
          else if (value.length() > 1) {
              array = value.split(",");
          }
          for (int i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {
              String item = array[i];
              if ((item.startsWith("\"") && item.endsWith("\"")) || (item.startsWith("'") && item.endsWith("'")) && item.length() > 1)
                  array[i] = item.substring(1, item.length() - 2);
          }
          return array;
      }
docs: Empty list returns null;