What is command diff in Linux?

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.

What are the different commands in Unix?

Basic Unix Commands

• IMPORTANT: The Unix (Ultrix) operating system is case sensitive.
• ls–Lists the names of files in a particular Unix directory.
• more–Enables examination of a continuous text one screenful at a time on a terminal.
• cat– Displays the contents of a file on your terminal.
• cp–Makes copies of your files.

How does Unix diff command work?

diff is a command-line utility that allows you to compare two files line by line. It can also compare the contents of directories. The diff command is most commonly used to create a patch containing the differences between one or more files that can be applied using the patch command.

How do I diff two directories in Unix?

Diff command in Unix is used to find the differences between files(all types). Since directory is also a type of file, the differences between two directories can easily be figure out by using diff commands. For more option use man diff on your unix box.

What does the diff command do in Linux?

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. This page covers the GNU / Linux version of diff.

How to compare two text files in Unix?

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.

What does diff in CMP mean in Linux?

Last Updated : 19 Feb, 2021 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.

What does Line 4 in the diff command mean?

It also indicates that line 4 has been added (+) in the second file and there is no corresponding line in file 1. This option provides output similar to the copied context format. Instead of displaying the two files separately, it merges them together.