Stippellijn

Stippellijn is a line composed of dots or short segments, used in graphic representations to indicate non-continuity, distinction from a solid line, or to convey uncertainty about the exact path or position. The term is Dutch and translates to “dotted line” in English.

In cartography and technical drawings, stippellijnen often denote boundaries, routes, or features that are provisional, disputed, or not yet fixed. They can indicate proposed borders, planned roads, or areas where the exact location is uncertain. In architectural plans and engineering drawings, a stippellijn may represent hidden edges, centerlines, or future construction elements, contrasting with solid lines that denote confirmed or visible features.

In graphic design and digital media, stippellijnen are used to guide viewers, mark non-critical boundaries, or represent non-permanent states in diagrams and manuals. In computing and web design, the concept has a digital counterpart in the dotted border style (for example, border-style: dotted in CSS), which visually mirrors the traditional stippellijn to distinguish it from solid or dashed lines.

Etymology and usage notes: the word combines stip (dot) and lijn (line) and is common in Dutch technical literature and everyday language. The exact meaning of a stippellijn can vary by discipline, but it generally signals that the line is not a definitive, solid representation of a fixed element.