A single parcel or building footprint sometimes needs to become two, for a phased development or a subdivided lot. Other times two parcels need to become one. Use the Split tool (icon looks like scissors) to cut, trim, or combine existing geometries.

Split

Click the Split tool and choose Split, or press X, to cut a shape along a line you draw.

Offset split

Click the Split tool and choose Offset split, or press Shift+X, to cut a polygon straight across at an exact distance along one of its edges.

Trim

Select a line that crosses a geometry, then click the down arrow on the Split tool and choose Trim to cut away the part of a shape you don't need, like an area outside a boundary.

Union

Union merges two or more polygons into one, like consolidating parcels under common ownership.

Select the polygons. OR skip this step: choose the command, Shift+click each polygon, and click the last one without Shift.
Click the down arrow on the Split tool and choose Union.

Giraffe replaces the polygons with the merged shape. The new shape takes the properties of the last polygon you selected.

Intersection

Intersection keeps only the area that two or more polygons share, like the part of a site inside a zoning overlay.

Select the polygons.
Click the down arrow on the Split tool and choose Intersection.

Giraffe replaces the polygons with the shared area. The new shape takes the properties of the last polygon you selected.

Difference

Difference cuts one polygon out of another, like a courtyard out of a building footprint.

Select the polygon to cut from.
Shift+click the polygon to cut with.
Click the down arrow on the Split tool and choose Difference.

Giraffe replaces both polygons with the result.

Difference uses the first two polygons you select. Select only those two, since Giraffe removes every selected polygon when it runs.

Shape builder

Shape builder lets you click the exact overlapping areas to keep, which is useful when Union, Intersection, or Difference alone won't give the shape you need.

Select two or more polygons or lines.
Click the down arrow on the Split tool and choose Shape builder.
Click each area you want to keep. Click an area again to drop it.
Press Enter or click Proceed.

Shape builder keeps your original shapes by default. Click the toggle next to Proceed to delete them instead. The new shapes start without the originals' properties. Press Esc or click Cancel to leave without changes.

Learn more about combining overlapping polygons.

Split Tool