splitter

A splitter is a device or component that divides a single input signal, flow, or resource into multiple outputs. The term is used across disciplines such as electronics, optics, acoustics, and mechanical engineering. Splitters are designed to distribute the input while preserving its essential characteristics as much as possible, though some loss or alteration is usually incurred in the process.

In electrical and radio-frequency systems, a splitter (often called a power divider or RF splitter) splits an input signal into two or more outputs with relatively equal amplitude and controlled phase relationships. Common forms include 2-way and 4-way coaxial splitters based on transmission line or transformer networks. They introduce a nominal loss corresponding to the split ratio and may provide isolation between outputs to reduce interaction among branches.

In consumer electronics and communications, splitters are used to copy a signal to multiple destinations, such as routing an audio, video, or antenna signal to several devices. For audio and video, passive splitters can cause a reduction in signal level at each output unless buffered or amplified. In fiber optics, splitters divide light from a single input fiber into multiple output fibers in passive optical networks (PON). Types include 1x2 and 1xN splitters, with PLC (planar lightwave circuit) and FBT (fused biconical taper) implementations, each with characteristic insertion loss and bandwidth.

Other meanings include mechanical tools such as a log splitter, which uses hydraulic, electric, or manual force to divide wood, and software concepts where a splitter partitions data streams or content.