SplitWindow

Splitwindow is a user interface pattern in which a single application window is divided into two or more panes that display different content at the same time. The arrangement allows multitasking within one window by letting users view and interact with separate sources, documents, or outputs concurrently. Panes are typically laid out horizontally or vertically and can usually be resized by dragging the divider.

Common in text editors, integrated development environments, terminals, and data dashboards. In text editors such as Vim and Emacs, split views let a user edit one file while viewing another or compare code side by side. Terminal multiplexers like tmux and GNU screen partition a single terminal session into multiple panes. Modern IDEs and editors such as Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and others provide split editor views to compare files, review diffs, or monitor logs while editing.

Features include resizable panes, independent or synchronized scrolling, and the ability to focus input on a chosen pane. Layouts can be horizontal, vertical, or grid-based, and many implementations offer layout presets that persist across sessions. Some tools provide pane-specific commands, terminal emulation in a pane, and options to synchronize actions across panes.

Variants and related concepts include side-by-side views, split-screen on desktops and mobile devices, and tiling window managers that automatically arrange panes.

History and impact: The split window pattern has long been a core feature of text editors and terminal multiplexers, supporting workflows that require simultaneous editing, comparison, and monitoring. It remains widely used in software development, data analysis, and information dashboards.