# WinForms SplitContainer Overview

**RadSplitContainer** is a layout control which allows you to add many container panels to a form, separated by splitter(s). It is very handy for creating complex user interfaces where a selection in one panel determines what objects are shown in another panel. The splitter makes it very easy for users to re-size the panels to fit their personal liking.

<CtaPanelOverview></CtaPanelOverview>

![WinForms RadSplitContainer Overview](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/855e84257fda091cd8e6c420b3e12e1c/splitcontainer-overview001.png)

The design of the control is simple, yet flexible enough to handle virtually any complex layout scenario. The layout consists of one or more **SplitPanel** instances, organized in containers. A container has “Orientation”, which defines the direction in which each child panel will be laid-out. It also composes a **SplitContainerLayoutStrategy** instance, which handles all layout requests from its owning container. Each **SplitPanel** instance has a member of type **SplitPanelSizeInfo**, which is used by the strategy to determine the size and position of this panel on its hosting container. Available are four different sizing modes per panel basis:

* *Auto*: a panel is auto-sized, based on the available remaining size of the container.

* *Relative*: a panel occupies amount of space, relative to the container’s available size. This amount is specified through the SplitPanelSizeInfo.**RelativeRatio** property.

* *Absolute*: Absolute size is used for a panel. The amount of size is specified through the SplitPanelSizeInfo.**AbsoluteSize** property.

* *Fill*: Special mode currently used by the **MainDocumentContainer**. When a **RadSplitContainer** has a descendant(s) with this special size mode, all panels are sized absolutely, leaving the available space for all the “Fill” panels.

Having all these sizing modes, combined with the **Orientation** setting, available per split container basis, allow for virtually any layout scenario to be easily achieved.

## Telerik UI for WinForms Learning Resources

* [Telerik UI for WinForms SplitContainer Homepage](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/split-container.aspx)
* [Get Started with the Telerik UI for WinForms SplitContainer](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/splitcontainer/getting-started)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms API Reference](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/api/)
* [Getting Started with Telerik UI for WinForms Components](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/getting-started/first-steps)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Virtual Classroom (Training Courses for Registered Users)](https://learn.telerik.com/learn/course/external/view/elearning/17/TelerikUIforWinForms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Forum](https://www.telerik.com/forums/winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Knowledge Base](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/knowledge-base)

## Telerik UI for WinForms Additional Resources

* [Telerik UI for WinForms Product Overview](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms.aspx)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Blog](https://www.telerik.com/blogs/desktop-winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Videos](https://www.telerik.com/videos/product/winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Roadmap](https://www.telerik.com/support/whats-new/winforms/roadmap)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Pricing](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/individual/winforms.aspx)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Code Library](https://www.telerik.com/support/code-library/winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Support](https://www.telerik.com/support/winforms)
* [What’s New in Telerik UI for WinForms](https://www.telerik.com/support/whats-new/winforms)

## See Also

* [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/splitcontainer/structure)
* [Getting Started](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/splitcontainer/getting-started)