Decoder comprising: an extractor configured to extract, for each of a plurality of simply connected regions into which an array of information samples representing a spatially sampled information signal is sub-divided, payload data from a data stream; and a reconstructor configured to reconstruct the array of information samples from the payload data for the simply connected regions of the array of information samples, by processing, for each simply connected region, the payload data for the respective simply connected region in a way prescribed by coding parameters associated with the respective simply connected region, characterized in that the extractor is further configured to extract from the data stream a first subset of the coding parameters inserted into the data stream for a predetermined simply connected region, identify, for the predetermined simply connected region, a candidate set comprising a subset of simply connected regions within the plurality of simply connected regions for the predetermined simply connected region, the subset including only simply connected regions having a predetermined relative locational relationship to the predetermined simply connected region, and, concurrently, having corresponding coding parameters associated therewith which fulfil a predetermined relationship to the first subset of the coding parameters in that a distance, calculated according to a predetermined distance measure, to the first subset of the coding parameters is smaller than or equal to a predefined threshold, extract a merge indicator for the predetermined simply connected region from the data stream, only if the merge indicator suggests a merged processing of the predetermined simply connected region, extract a reference identifier from the data stream identifying an identified simply connected region out of the candidate set which shall be used for merging, and either adopt or predict a second subset of the coding parameters for the predetermined simply connected region, disjoint from the first subset of coding parameters, using the coding parameters of the identified simply connected region. an extractor configured to extract, for each of a plurality of simply connected regions into which an array of information samples representing a spatially sampled information signal is sub-divided, payload data from a data stream; and a reconstructor configured to reconstruct the array of information samples from the payload data for the simply connected regions of the array of information samples, by processing, for each simply connected region, the payload data for the respective simply connected region in a way prescribed by coding parameters associated with the respective simply connected region, characterized in that the extractor is further configured to extract from the data stream a first subset of the coding parameters inserted into the data stream for a predetermined simply connected region, identify, for the predetermined simply connected region, a candidate set comprising a subset of simply connected regions within the plurality of simply connected regions for the predetermined simply connected region, the subset including only simply connected regions having a predetermined relative locational relationship to the predetermined simply connected region, and, concurrently, having corresponding coding parameters associated therewith which fulfil a predetermined relationship to the first subset of the coding parameters in that a distance, calculated according to a predetermined distance measure, to the first subset of the coding parameters is smaller than or equal to a predefined threshold, extract a merge indicator for the predetermined simply connected region from the data stream, only if the merge indicator suggests a merged processing of the predetermined simply connected region, extract a reference identifier from the data stream identifying an identified simply connected region out of the candidate set which shall be used for merging, and either adopt or predict a second subset of the coding parameters for the predetermined simply connected region, disjoint from the first subset of coding parameters, using the coding parameters of the identified simply connected region. extract from the data stream a first subset of the coding parameters inserted into the data stream for a predetermined simply connected region, identify, for the predetermined simply connected region, a candidate set comprising a subset of simply connected regions within the plurality of simply connected regions for the predetermined simply connected region, the subset including only simply connected regions having a predetermined relative locational relationship to the predetermined simply connected region, and, concurrently, having corresponding coding parameters associated therewith which fulfil a predetermined relationship to the first subset of the coding parameters in that a distance, calculated according to a predetermined distance measure, to the first subset of the coding parameters is smaller than or equal to a predefined threshold, extract a merge indicator for the predetermined simply connected region from the data stream, only if the merge indicator suggests a merged processing of the predetermined simply connected region, extract a reference identifier from the data stream identifying an identified simply connected region out of the candidate set which shall be used for merging, and either adopt or predict a second subset of the coding parameters for the predetermined simply connected region, disjoint from the first subset of coding parameters, using the coding parameters of the identified simply connected region.