unsplit

Unsplit is a term used across several domains to describe reversing a split or reassembling components that had been separated. Because it is not standardized to a single definition, its precise meaning varies by field, but the common thread is restoring a previous, unified form from parts.

In programming and data processing, split typically denotes dividing a string, file, or data record into parts. Unsplit, when used, refers to reconstructing the original form—such as concatenating parts into a single string or reassembling a record from its fields. In many libraries and languages, this reversal is implemented by functions named join, concatenate, or assemble; “unsplit” may appear in documentation or as a method name in some frameworks.

In geographic information systems, an unsplit operation can mean merging features that were previously separated by a boundary, restoring a continuous feature. This is the inverse of split or clip operations and can apply to polygons or lines, with the aim of removing artificial boundaries between adjacent features.

In data storage and distributed systems, unsplit occasionally describes reconstituting fragments into a whole, such as combining shards or fragments after a partition. This usage is less standardized and is often described with terms like merge or reassembly.

See also: split, join, concatenate, merge, dissolve, union.