Split by Lines

Draft: written, not yet checked by a person Operation · split-by-lines

Cuts each feature into pieces where lines from another layer cross it.

Pitfall. Some functions return the pieces as one collection per feature rather than separate features.

Pitfall. A line that ends inside a polygon without crossing it does not split it.

About this operation
Also called	Split, split with lines, Split Polygons, cut polygons, blade
Group	`vector/overlay`
Checks	`crs.agreement, geometry.valid`
Pitfalls	2 listed above
Columbus tool	Not stated
Notes	Not stated
Status	active
Broader	Not stated
Narrower	Not stated
Related	`intersect` `union-overlay` `explode-lines`

Parameters

Not stated

Direction	Name	Type	Geometry	Note
Input	`layer`	vector	Not stated	Not stated
Input	`lines`	vector	line	Not stated
Output	`output`	vector	Not stated	Not stated

Engine	Tool	Parameters	Differences
`apache-sedona`	`sedona.sql.ST_Split`	`layer` → `input` `lines` → `blade`	A Spark SQL function: arguments are columns or column names, run over a Spark DataFrame.
`postgis`	`st_split`	`layer` → `#1` `lines` → `#2`	Returns one GeometryCollection of the pieces per feature; ST_Dump them for separate features.
`qgis`	`native:splitwithlines`	`layer` → `INPUT` `lines` → `LINES` `output` → `OUTPUT`	None noted
`shapely`	`shapely.split`	`layer` → `geometry` `lines` → `splitter`	Returns one GeometryCollection of the pieces per geometry.
`turf-js`	`turf.lineSplit`	`layer` → `line` `lines` → `splitter`	Splits a line only, not polygons. Turf works on GeoJSON in longitude/latitude (WGS 84); data in another CRS must be reprojected first.
`whiteboxtools`	`SplitWithLines`	`layer` → `input` `lines` → `split` `output` → `output`	None noted