What is a text diff tool?

A text diff tool compares two pieces of text and highlights the differences between them, showing what has been added, removed, or modified. It's commonly used for code reviews, document comparison, and version control.

How do I compare two texts?

Simply paste or type your original text in the left box and the modified text in the right box. Click 'Compare Texts' to see the differences highlighted in different colors - green for additions, red for deletions.

Text Diff Tool

Compare two texts side-by-side and identify differences instantly. Highlight additions, deletions, and modifications with line-by-line comparison for documents, code, and content review.

Original Text:

Modified Text:

Comparison Options:

Ignore Whitespace

Ignore Case

Show Line Numbers

View Mode:

Unified View

Split View

Example Comparisons:

Code Comparison Compare JavaScript functions

Document Review Compare document versions

Configuration Files Compare config file changes

Text Content Compare poetry or prose

About Text Comparison

What is Text Diff?

Text diff (difference) is a tool that compares two pieces of text and highlights the differences between them. It shows what content has been added, removed, or modified, making it essential for version control, document review, and code analysis.

Diff Color Coding

Green (Added): Lines that have been added to the modified text
Red (Removed): Lines that were deleted from the original text
Gray (Unchanged): Lines that remain the same in both texts

View Modes

Unified View: Shows all changes in a single column with color coding
Split View: Displays original and modified text side-by-side

Comparison Options

Ignore Whitespace: Ignores spaces, tabs, and other whitespace characters
Ignore Case: Treats uppercase and lowercase letters as identical
Show Line Numbers: Displays line numbers for easier reference

Common Use Cases

Code Review: Compare different versions of source code
Document Editing: Track changes in documents and manuscripts
Configuration Management: Compare config files and settings
Content Review: Compare website content and marketing copy
Version Control: Review commits and pull requests
Legal Documents: Compare contract versions and amendments

Common Questions

How does the diff algorithm work?

The tool uses a line-by-line comparison algorithm that identifies matching and differing lines. It calculates the minimum number of changes needed to transform one text into another.

Can I compare large files?

Yes, but very large files may take longer to process. For optimal performance, consider breaking large files into smaller sections.

What's the difference between unified and split view?

Unified view shows all changes in one column with color coding, while split view displays the original and modified text side-by-side for easier comparison.

Can I ignore formatting differences?

Yes, use the "Ignore Whitespace" option to focus on content changes while ignoring spaces, tabs, and indentation differences.