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Text Diff

Compare two texts and highlight differences line by line

2 unchanged +0 added -0 removed 2 changed

Difference View

1 1 ~
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The quick brown cat jumps over the lazy dog.
2 2
This is line two.
3 3
Line three stays the same.
4 4 ~
This line will be removed.
This is a new line added.

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What is Text Diff?

Text diff (difference) is a comparison technique that identifies changes between two versions of text. It shows which lines have been added, removed, or modified—essential for version control, code review, document comparison, and content auditing.

This free online text diff tool compares two texts line by line and highlights all differences with color-coded output. Similar to the Unix diff command or Git diff, but with a visual interface that's easy to understand and share.

Understanding Diff Output

+ Added Lines (Green)

Lines that exist only in the modified text. These are new additions.

- Removed Lines (Red)

Lines that exist only in the original text. These were deleted.

~ Changed Lines (Yellow)

Lines that were modified. Shows both the old and new versions.

Common Use Cases

Code Review

Compare code changes before committing or during pull request reviews to understand what was modified.

Document Versioning

Track changes between document drafts, contracts, or any text that evolves over time.

Configuration Audit

Verify changes to config files, environment variables, or server settings before deployment.

Debug Issues

Compare working vs broken versions to identify exactly what changed and caused an issue.

Tips for Effective Comparison

  • Use "Ignore whitespace" when comparing code with different formatting styles.
  • Use "Ignore case" for case-insensitive comparisons like SQL or configuration values.
  • Original on left — convention is to put the older version in the left/original field.
  • Check line endings — Windows (CRLF) vs Unix (LF) may cause false differences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my data sent to a server?

No! All comparison happens locally in your browser. Your text never leaves your device, making it safe for sensitive content.

What algorithm is used?

This tool uses a line-by-line diff algorithm. For word-level or character-level diffs, consider specialized tools like git diff.

Can I compare files?

This tool works with text. Copy-paste file contents into the text areas. For binary files, use specialized diff tools.