old_contents: import os
  from collections import deque
  
  def split_path_into_components(path):
      """
      Splits a path and returns a list of its constituents.
      E.g.: /totally/random/path => ['totally', 'random', 'path']
  
      :param path: the path to be split
      :type path: str
      :returns: the list which contains the path components
      """
      head, tail = os.path.split(path)
      if not tail:
          return []
  
      components = deque()
      components.appendleft(tail)
  
      path = head
  
      while path and path != '/':
          head, tail = os.path.split(path)
          components.appendleft(tail)
          path = head
  
      return list(components)
  
new_contents: import os
  from collections import deque
  
  def split_path_into_components(path):
      """
      Splits a path and returns a list of its constituents.
      E.g.: /totally/random/path => ['totally', 'random', 'path']
  
      :param path: the path to be split
      :type path: str
      :returns: the list which contains the path components
  
      .. note::
          This function is by no means a function which treats all the possible
      constructs. Since we build the paths, we assume the following format. The
      path:
          * has to start with the `/` character if is not empty.
          * it cannot contain double slashes `//`
          * it cannot end with trailing slashes `/`
  
          Examples of correct paths:
             * ``
             * `/`
             * `/a/b`
      """
  
      head, tail = os.path.split(path)
      if not tail:
          return []
  
      components = deque()
      components.appendleft(tail)
  
      path = head
  
      while path and path != '/':
          head, tail = os.path.split(path)
          components.appendleft(tail)
          path = head
  
      return list(components)
  
subject: Update the docstring to clearly specify the purpose of the 'split_path_into_components' function.