Implementing Syncfusion React Splitter

The Splitter component creates flexible, resizable panel layouts with advanced configuration options. This skill guides you through installation, layout patterns, customization, and accessibility features.

When to Use This Skill

Use the Splitter component when you need to:

• Create flexible layouts with multiple resizable panels
• Build split-screen interfaces (code editors, dashboards, file explorers)
• Allow users to adjust pane sizes dynamically
• Display collapsible panes with expand/collapse functionality
• Support different layout orientations (horizontal, vertical, nested)
• Implement responsive multi-panel layouts
• Add custom content types (HTML, components, selectors) to panes

Component Overview

SplitterComponent provides a container for multiple panes that users can resize by dragging separators. Each pane is defined with <PaneDirective> within <PanesDirective>.

Key Features:

• Multiple layout orientations (horizontal, vertical, nested)
• Dynamic pane resizing with constraints
• Expand/collapse pane functionality
• Multiple content types (HTML, components, CSS selectors)
• Events for resize, expand, collapse operations
• Add/remove panes dynamically at runtime
• Accessibility and RTL support
• Theme customization

Installation: npm install @syncfusion/ej2-react-layouts --save

Documentation and Navigation Guide

Getting Started

📄 Read: references/getting-started.md

• Installation and package setup
• CSS imports and theme configuration
• Basic Splitter initialization with PanesDirective
• First working example
• Import statements and dependencies

API Reference: Properties and Configuration

📄 Read: references/properties-and-configuration.md

• Complete SplitterComponent properties (orientation, height, width, separatorSize, etc.)
• All PaneDirective properties (size, min, max, collapsed, collapsible, resizable, content, cssClass)
• enablePersistence for state persistence
• enableHtmlSanitizer for security
• Common configuration patterns and examples

API Reference: Methods

📄 Read: references/methods-reference.md

• addPane() - Dynamically add new panes with PanePropertiesModel
• removePane() - Remove panes by index
• collapse() - Programmatically collapse panes
• expand() - Programmatically expand panes
• destroy() - Component cleanup and resource release
• Real-world examples with working code

API Reference: Events

📄 Read: references/events-reference.md

• created - Component initialization
• beforeCollapse / collapsed - Collapse events with cancellation
• beforeExpand / expanded - Expand events with data loading
• resizeStart / resizing / resizeStop - Resize lifecycle
• Event handling patterns and state management

Pane Layout Configuration

📄 Read: references/pane-layout-configuration.md

• Horizontal and vertical layouts
• Multiple panes and nested splitters
• Pane properties and configuration
• Layout patterns for common use cases

Pane Sizing and Separation

📄 Read: references/pane-sizing-and-separation.md

• Fixed pane sizing
• Percentage-based sizing
• Min and max size constraints
• Separator styling and customization
• Dynamic size adjustments

Expand and Collapse Functionality

📄 Read: references/expand-collapse-functionality.md

• Collapsed state initialization
• Button integration for expand/collapse
• User-driven vs programmatic collapse
• Event handling patterns

Resize Behavior

📄 Read: references/resize-behavior.md

• Resize events and lifecycle
• Preventing resize on specific panes
• Dynamic resize configuration
• Resize constraints and validation
• Event data and handling

Pane Content and Styling

📄 Read: references/pane-content-and-styling.md

• HTML content in panes
• React component content in panes
• CSS selector-based content
• Pane template usage
• Custom styling and classes

Accessibility and Globalization

📄 Read: references/accessibility-and-globalization.md

• WCAG compliance and keyboard navigation
• ARIA attributes and screen reader support
• RTL (Right-to-Left) support
• Internationalization and locale
• Focus management and accessibility patterns

Style Customization

📄 Read: references/style-customization.md

• CSS customization and custom classes
• Theme variables and CSS imports
• Gripper and separator styling
• Responsive design patterns
• Dark mode and theme switching

Quick Start Example

import { PaneDirective, PanesDirective, SplitterComponent } from '@syncfusion/ej2-react-layouts';
import * as React from "react";
import './App.css';

function App() {
  return (
    <div className='App'>
      <SplitterComponent>
        <PanesDirective>
          <PaneDirective size='200px'>
            <div>Left Panel</div>
          </PaneDirective>
          <PaneDirective size='300px'>
            <div>Right Panel</div>
          </PaneDirective>
        </PanesDirective>
      </SplitterComponent>
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

Common Patterns

Two-Column Layout

<SplitterComponent orientation='Horizontal'>
  <PanesDirective>
    <PaneDirective size='25%'><div>Left</div></PaneDirective>
    <PaneDirective size='75%'><div>Main Content</div></PaneDirective>
  </PanesDirective>
</SplitterComponent>

Vertical Split with Collapse

<SplitterComponent orientation='Vertical'>
  <PanesDirective>
    <PaneDirective size='50%' collapsed={true}><div>Top</div></PaneDirective>
    <PaneDirective size='50%'><div>Bottom</div></PaneDirective>
  </PanesDirective>
</SplitterComponent>

Three-Panel Dashboard

<SplitterComponent orientation='Horizontal'>
  <PanesDirective>
    <PaneDirective size='20%'><div>Sidebar</div></PaneDirective>
    <PaneDirective size='60%'><div>Main Content</div></PaneDirective>
    <PaneDirective size='20%'><div>Right Panel</div></PaneDirective>
  </PanesDirective>
</SplitterComponent>

Nested Splitters

Combine horizontal and vertical splitters for complex layouts like code editors with file explorer, editor, and console panels.

Key Props

Prop	Type	Description	When to Use
orientation	'Horizontal' | 'Vertical'	Layout direction	When configuring panel direction
size	string (PaneDirective)	Pane width/height (px, %)	When setting pane dimensions
min	string (PaneDirective)	Minimum pane size	When preventing pane from shrinking too small
max	string (PaneDirective)	Maximum pane size	When limiting pane expansion
collapsed	boolean (PaneDirective)	Initial collapsed state	When panes should start hidden
collapsible	boolean (PaneDirective)	Allow user to collapse	When collapsing should be user-driven
resizable	boolean (PaneDirective)	Allow user to resize	When preventing manual resizing

Common Use Cases

File Explorer + Editor: Left sidebar (fixed 250px) with collapsible file tree, main editor area with resizing

Dashboard: Top bar (fixed height), left sidebar (collapsible nav), main content, right details panel

Chat Interface: Left contact list (fixed width), chat area (resizable), right info panel

Code Editor: Left explorer (collapsible), center editor (main), bottom console (collapsible)

Email Client: Left folders (fixed), center list (resizable), right preview (resizable)