I think you are refereing to what is called a ductless system or mini-split as a "split system."  Central AC can be a "split system." Here is a reference: https://iwae.com/resources/articles/split-system-need-one.html#:~:text=A%20split%20system%20is%20an,....

"An air conditioner split system is the most common form of home cooling in the United States. Most homes with a central air conditioning system use a split system. This is the basic setup we've been talking about in this article: inside air handler, outside condenser, and refrigerant lines that connect the two. "