---
title: "divide"
description: "Divides this path into a list of paths. Each contour inside this path is returned as a separate
[Path]. For instance the following code snippet creates two rectangular contours:
```
val p = Path()
p.addRect(...)
p.addRect(...)

val contours = p.divide()
```

The list returned by calling `p.divide()` will contain two `Path` instances, each representing
one of the two rectangles.

Empty contours (contours with no lines/curves) are omitted from the resulting list."
type: "function"
---

<div class='type'>Function</div>


<a id='references'></a>
<div class='sourceset sourceset-common'>Common</div>


```kotlin
fun Path.divide(contours: MutableList<Path> = mutableListOf()): MutableList<Path>
```


Divides this path into a list of paths. Each contour inside this path is returned as a separate
`Path`. For instance the following code snippet creates two rectangular contours:
```
val p = Path()
p.addRect(...)
p.addRect(...)

val contours = p.divide()
```

The list returned by calling `p.divide()` will contain two `Path` instances, each representing
one of the two rectangles.

Empty contours (contours with no lines/curves) are omitted from the resulting list.

#### Parameters

| | |
| --- | --- |
| contours | An optional mutable list of `Path` that will hold the result of the division. |


#### Returns

| | |
| --- | --- |
|  | A list of `Path` representing all the contours in this path. The returned list is either a newly allocated list if the `contours` parameter was left unspecified, or the `contours` parameter. |