---
title: splitView
framework: appkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: appkit/nssplitviewcontroller/splitview
---

# splitView

The split view that the split view controller manages.

## Declaration

```swift
var splitView: NSSplitView { get set }
```

## Discussion

Discussion This property gives you access to the split view controller’s split view for querying its attributes or customizing it. By default, a split view arranges its child views vertically from top to bottom. To specify a horizontal (side-by-side) arrangement, implement the isVertical property of the split view object to return true. Also by default, a split view has a divider style of NSSplitView.DividerStyle.thin, and doesn’t have an autosave name. important: Don’t change the delegate property of a split view through the splitView property of a split view controller, and don’t call any methods on the split view object using this property. If you do, the system raises an exception. To provide a custom split view, set this property at any time before you call super in the inherited viewDidLoad() method; that is, before the split view controller’s isViewLoaded property is true. The split view isn’t always the same object as that in the split view controller’s inherited view property. To access the split view, always use the splitView property.

## See Also

### Configuring and Managing a Split View Controller

- [splitViewItem(for:)](appkit/nssplitviewcontroller/splitviewitem(for:).md)
- [splitViewItems](appkit/nssplitviewcontroller/splitviewitems.md)
- [NSSplitViewItem](appkit/nssplitviewitem.md)