UI Terms visual dictionary

Layouts

Split view

A layout that divides the viewport into two side-by-side panes, often resizable.

Each pane can hold independent content — a list and a detail view, an editor and a preview, two documents being compared. Splits can be vertical or horizontal, fixed or user-draggable. Common in code editors, email clients, and design tools.

Also called

split screentwo-pane layout

When to use

  • Comparing two pieces of content side-by-side (diffs, previews)
  • Editor + preview pairings
  • List + detail flows on wide screens

When not to use

  • Narrow screens where neither pane gets enough space
  • Content that doesn't have a natural pairing

Source

Apple HIG ('Split View'); widely used in desktop apps.