The UNIX diff command compares the contents of two text files and outputs a list of differences. If desired, you may instruct it to ignore spacing or case variations. This command can also verify that two files contain the same data. The syntax is relatively simple: diff [options] file1 file2

On Unix-like operating systems, the diff command analyzes two files and prints the lines that are different. In essence, it outputs a set of instructions for how to change one file to make it identical to the second file.

The command compares two files to suggest changes that would make the files identical. Great for finding that extra curly brace that broke your newly updated code. Using the diff command is very simple. Here’s the syntax: diff [options] file1 file2

diff stands for difference. This command is used to display the differences in the files by comparing the files line by line. Unlike its fellow members, cmp and comm, it tells us which lines in one file have is to be changed to make the two files identical.

We can compare the files with this command. Type diff, a space, the name of the first file, a space, the name of the second file, and then press Enter.