Proximity blast
A proximity blast was a special phaser and laser cannon beam setting that was employed on at least Federation starships. 

The proximity blast function operated by firing phasers in a concentrated bolt of energy, rather than a continuous beam. The phaser blast would then detonate at a predetermined point in space, affecting any ship or object within the blast . The proximity blast was mostly used during the Federation Klingon War by ships such as the U.S.S. Discovery and Shenzhou. (DISCO: Season 1) 

The proximity blast setting was used in 2266 by the  while engaging in combat with a Romulan Bird-of-Prey. As the Romulan ship was equipped with an advanced cloaking device, the proximity blast function proved useful against it, as a more precise targeting of the vessel was impossible. ()

The Enterprise used the proximity blast setting again a year later, when engaged in combat with a Klingon  battle cruiser. The Enterprise was successfully able to destroy the Klingon vessel using blasts set to one hundred percent dispersal pattern. ()

The U.S.S. Reliant used a semi beam/proximity blast when cutting into the Enterprise's hull and damaging the ship's warp core after being hijacked by Kahn and his followers in 2285. (ST2: TWOK)

See also
 Expanding energy pulse

de:Phaserkanone
Directed energy weapons