An optical splitter is a small, passive device—no power needed! —that splits one incoming light signal into multiple identical outputs. You'll often see ratios like 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, or even 1:64, which tell you how many ways the signal is divided. Beamsplitters are often classified according to their construction: cube or plate. Beamsplitters are fundamental components in optical engineering, serving to precisely divide a single input beam of light into two distinct output beams. This is usually done by applying a thin-film coating on a glass substrate and angling the element relative to the incoming light. In many systems, beamsplitters can also.