The MultiSplitLayout layout manager recursively arranges its components in row and column groups called "Splits". Elements of the layout are separated by gaps called "Dividers". The overall layout is defined with a simple tree model whose nodes are instances of MultiSplitLayout.Split, MultiSplitLayout. Divider, and MultiSplitLayout.Leaf. Named Leaf nodes represent the space allocated to a component that was added with a constraint that matches the Leaf's name. Extra space is distributed among row/column siblings according to their 0.0 to 1.0 weight. If no weights are specified then the last sibling always gets all of the extra space, or space reduction.

Although MultiSplitLayout can be used with any Container, it's the default layout manager for JXMultiSplitPane. JXMultiSplitPane supports interactively dragging the Dividers, accessibility, and other features associated with split panes.