Split symbols are symbols that show two or more copies of the same image in one position and count as that many symbols for wins. A double cherry, for example, counts as two cherries.
On a ways-to-win game, a split symbol works like an extra symbol on the reel, increasing the number of winning ways. On a payline or count-based game it can turn a four-of-a-kind into a five-of-a-kind, or push a symbol count past a pay threshold.
Some games apply splitting as a feature, splitting a symbol after it lands, sometimes repeatedly. Split mechanics raise the ceiling on single spins and so tend to sit in higher-volatility games. See our split symbols feature page.