diff --git a/src/package-url.d.ts b/src/package-url.d.ts
index 63802bf..e0b44c1 100644
--- a/src/package-url.d.ts
+++ b/src/package-url.d.ts
@@ -120,12 +120,14 @@ declare module "packageurl-js" {
     static Type: PurlType
 
     /**
-     *  The package "type" or package "protocol" such as maven, npm, nuget, gem, pypi, etc. Required.
+     * The package "type" or package "protocol" such as maven, npm, nuget, gem,
+     * pypi, etc. Required.
      */
     type: string
 
     /**
-     * Some name prefix such as a Maven groupid, a Docker image owner, a GitHub user or organization. Optional and type-specific.
+     * Some name prefix such as a Maven groupid, a Docker image owner, a GitHub
+     * user or organization. Optional and type-specific.
      */
     namespace: string | undefined
 
@@ -140,7 +142,8 @@ declare module "packageurl-js" {
     version: string | undefined
 
     /**
-     * Extra qualifying data for a package such as an OS, architecture, a distro, etc. Optional and type-specific.
+     * Extra qualifying data for a package such as an OS, architecture, a distro,
+     * etc. Optional and type-specific.
      */
     qualifiers: PurlQualifiers | undefined
 
@@ -165,9 +168,20 @@ declare module "packageurl-js" {
 
     /**
      * Parses a purl string into a PackageURL instance.
-     * @param purlStr string to parse
      */
     static fromString(purlStr: string): PackageURL
+
+    /**
+     * Parses a purl string into a PackageURL arguments array.
+     */
+    static parseString(purlStr: string): [
+      type: string | undefined,
+      namespace: string | undefined,
+      name: string | undefined,
+      version: string | undefined,
+      qualifiers: PurlQualifiers | undefined,
+      subpath: string | undefined
+    ]
   }
 
   export const PurlComponent = <PurlComponent>{}
diff --git a/src/package-url.js b/src/package-url.js
index 1887c93..e15e431 100644
--- a/src/package-url.js
+++ b/src/package-url.js
@@ -481,10 +481,24 @@ class PackageURL {
     }
 
     static fromString(purlStr) {
+        return new PackageURL(...PackageURL.parseString(purlStr))
+    }
+
+    static parseString(purlStr) {
         // https://github.com/package-url/purl-spec/blob/master/PURL-SPECIFICATION.rst#how-to-parse-a-purl-string-in-its-components
-        if (typeof purlStr !== 'string' || isBlank(purlStr)) {
+        if (typeof purlStr !== 'string') {
             throw new Error('A purl string argument is required.')
         }
+        if (isBlank(purlStr)) {
+            return [
+                undefined,
+                undefined,
+                undefined,
+                undefined,
+                undefined,
+                undefined
+            ]
+        }
 
         // Split the remainder once from left on ':'.
         const colonIndex = purlStr.indexOf(':')
@@ -510,7 +524,7 @@ class PackageURL {
         // The scheme is a constant with the value "pkg".
         if (url.protocol !== 'pkg:') {
             throw new Error(
-                'purl is missing the required "pkg" scheme component.'
+                'Invalid purl: missing required "pkg" scheme component'
             )
         }
 
@@ -524,10 +538,20 @@ class PackageURL {
 
         const { pathname } = url
         const firstSlashIndex = pathname.indexOf('/')
+        const rawType =
+            firstSlashIndex === -1
+                ? pathname
+                : pathname.slice(0, firstSlashIndex)
         if (firstSlashIndex < 1) {
-            throw new Error('Invalid purl: missing required "type" component')
+            return [
+                rawType,
+                undefined,
+                undefined,
+                undefined,
+                undefined,
+                undefined
+            ]
         }
-        const rawType = pathname.slice(0, firstSlashIndex)
 
         let rawVersion
         let atSignIndex = pathname.lastIndexOf('@')
@@ -576,14 +600,14 @@ class PackageURL {
             rawSubpath = hash.slice(1)
         }
 
-        return new PackageURL(
+        return [
             rawType,
             rawNamespace,
             rawName,
             rawVersion,
             rawQualifiers,
             rawSubpath
-        )
+        ]
     }
 }