---
title: Split column
description: Split a column's values into multiple columns using a custom separator.
category: Data Transformation
tags: [split, column, delimiter, transform, text]
---

# Split column

## Description

The **Split Column** activity transforms a single column containing delimited text values into multiple new columns. This is useful when one field stores multiple pieces of information — such as hierarchical data, tags, or composite identifiers — and you want to separate them for further analysis.

Use this activity to:

- Extract structured information from concatenated fields
- Normalize category or path-like data into multiple dimensions
- Break down composite values into individual components

> **Use case**:  
> A column contains category data like `"Electronics|Mobiles|Computers"`. Use this activity to split this into three distinct columns, making it easier to filter or group by category levels.

## Input

| Type     | Description                                                           |
| -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Data** | A dataset containing a column with delimited text values to be split. |

## Output

| Type     | Description                                                                       |
| -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Data** | Transformed dataset where the selected column is split into multiple new columns. |

## Configuration Fields

| Field Name                | Description                                                                                                        |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Column To Split**       | Select the column that contains delimited values you want to split.                                                |
| **Separator**             | Specify the delimiter that separates values in the column (e.g., `, `,`, `-`).                                     |
| **Output Columns Prefix** | Prefix to assign to newly created columns. Each resulting column will be named as `<prefix>_1`, `<prefix>_2`, etc. |
| **Include Original**      | If enabled, retains the original unsplit column in the output. If disabled, only the new columns are shown.        |

## Sample Input

| category                        | value |
| ------------------------------- | ----- |
| Electronics\|Mobiles\|Computers | 10    |
| Home\|Kitchen\|Furniture        | 20    |
| Home\|Kitchen                   | 20    |
| Furniture\|Kitchen\|Electronics | 20    |
| Electronics\|Mobiles\|Furniture | 20    |

## Sample Configuration

| Field                 | Value    |
| --------------------- | -------- |
| Column To Split       | category |
| Separator             | `        |
| Output Columns Prefix | `new`    |
| Include Original      | Enabled  |

## Sample Output

| category                        | value | new_1       | new_2   | new_3       |
| ------------------------------- | ----- | ----------- | ------- | ----------- |
| Electronics\|Mobiles\|Computers | 10    | Electronics | Mobiles | Computers   |
| Home\|Kitchen\|Furniture        | 20    | Home        | Kitchen | Furniture   |
| Home\|Kitchen                   | 20    | Home        | Kitchen |             |
| Furniture\|Kitchen\|Electronics | 20    | Furniture   | Kitchen | Electronics |
| Electronics\|Mobiles\|Furniture | 20    | Electronics | Mobiles | Furniture   |