Glossary
Split keyboard
A keyboard divided into two separate halves, or two connected sections, positioned to keep the wrists straight while typing.
A split keyboard separates the keys into two halves, either as two physically distinct pieces connected by a cable or wireless link, or as one board with a gap and angle built into the middle. The goal is to let each hand and wrist stay in a more natural, straighter position instead of both hands angling inward to reach a single narrow keyboard.
On a standard keyboard, typing forces the wrists to bend slightly outward, called ulnar deviation, because the hands sit closer together than shoulder width. A split design lets each half move out to shoulder width and often tent upward in the middle, which keeps the forearms and wrists closer to a neutral line from elbow to fingertip.
Fully split keyboards have a learning curve, since muscle memory for key locations, especially in the middle columns, needs to rebuild over the first week or two of use. Fixed-split boards with a smaller, built-in gap are a gentler introduction for people who want some of the benefit without the adjustment period of two independent halves.