FAQ - Text Diff Tool

Documentation Core Tools Text Diff

The Text Diff tool is an online utility that compares two text files or text content and highlights the differences between them. It's designed for developers, writers, and anyone who needs to track changes in text documents.

Is the Text Diff tool free to use?

Yes, the Text Diff tool is completely free to use. There are no registration requirements or usage limits.

Do I need to install anything?

No installation is required. The tool runs entirely in your web browser and doesn't require any software installation.

Is my data secure?

Yes, your data is completely secure. All processing is done locally in your browser, and no text content is sent to external servers. Your data remains private and secure.

File Upload Questions

What file formats are supported?

The tool supports various text-based file formats including:

Text files (.txt)
Markdown files (.md)
JavaScript files (.js, .ts)
Vue components (.vue)
Web files (.html, .css)
Data formats (.json, .xml, .yaml, .yml)

What's the maximum file size?

The tool works best with files under 10,000 lines. For very large files, consider splitting them into smaller sections for better performance.

Can I upload binary files?

No, the tool only supports text-based files. Binary files like images, videos, or executables cannot be processed.

What happens if I upload an unsupported file?

The tool will display an error message and ask you to select a supported text file format.

Comparison Options

What does "Ignore Whitespace" do?

When enabled, this option treats lines as identical if they differ only in whitespace characters (spaces, tabs, line endings). This is useful for comparing code files with different formatting styles.

What does "Ignore Case" do?

This option performs case-insensitive comparison, treating uppercase and lowercase letters as equivalent. This is useful for comparing configuration files or content where case doesn't matter.

Can I use both options together?

Yes, you can enable both "Ignore Whitespace" and "Ignore Case" options simultaneously for maximum flexibility in your comparisons.

Do the options affect the statistics?

Yes, the statistics are calculated based on the processed content after applying the selected options. This gives you accurate counts of actual differences.

Results and Output

How do I read the diff output?

The diff output uses a standard format:

+ indicates added lines
- indicates removed lines
(space) indicates unchanged lines
Numbers show line numbers in each file

Can I copy the results?

Yes, click the "Copy" button to copy the diff results to your clipboard. The results maintain their formatting when pasted into other applications.

What do the statistics mean?

The statistics show:

Added: Number of new lines in File B
Removed: Number of lines deleted from File A
Modified: Number of lines that were changed
Unchanged: Number of lines that remained the same

Why don't I see any differences?

This could happen if:

Both files are identical
The selected options are hiding differences (e.g., ignore whitespace)
One or both files are empty
The content is actually the same

History Management

How does the history feature work?

Every comparison is automatically saved to your history, including file names, timestamp, and diff options used. You can access previous comparisons and reload them quickly.