Skiljelinje

Skiljelinje is a Norwegian term meaning “separator line” or “boundary line.” It denotes a line used to divide two areas, categories, or states. The word is formed from skilje, meaning to separate, and linje, meaning line. The exact sense of skiljelinje varies by discipline and country, but it generally refers to a demarcation element on a figure, map, or diagram.

In cartography and geography, skiljelinje describes lines that mark boundaries on maps, such as political borders, cadastral divisions, or natural limits between regions. In hydrology and physical geography, the term can refer to a watershed or drainage divide—the line that separates one drainage basin from another. In data analysis and visualization, the concept can be used metaphorically to describe a decision boundary that separates different classes in a plot or classifier. In design, publishing, and information graphics, a skiljelinje may also denote a visual rule, such as a line or rule that separates sections or items to improve clarity.

The usage of skiljelinje is thus context-dependent: it conveys the idea of separation or distinction, whether for political geography, natural hydrology, data interpretation, or visual layout. See also related concepts such as boundary, watershed, and decision boundary for broader understanding.