Text Diff

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Compare and diff two texts

Developer Tools

How to Use Text Diff

  1. 1Paste the original text in Text A
  2. 2Paste the modified text in Text B
  3. 3Click Compare to see the differences
  4. 4Review the color-coded diff output

About Text Diff

Text Compare (Diff) lets you paste two versions of text into side-by-side panels and instantly see exactly how they differ. Lines present only in Text B (the newer version) are highlighted in green as additions, lines present only in Text A (the original) are highlighted in red as removals, and unchanged lines appear in neutral gray.

The comparison works line by line, making it ideal for comparing document revisions, spotting changes in configuration files, reviewing contract edits, or auditing any text changes without needing a version control system like Git.

All comparison runs locally in your browser with no server required. This tool is particularly useful for non-technical users who need to compare text revisions without access to git diff or other developer tools.

Key Features of Text Diff

  • Line-by-line comparison of two text versions
  • Green highlights for lines added in Text B (new version)
  • Red highlights for lines removed from Text A (original)
  • Gray display for unchanged lines
  • Shows a summary count of added and removed lines
  • Works on any text — documents, code, config files, contracts
  • Instant comparison with no submit delay
  • Runs entirely in-browser with no data transmission

Examples

Compare two versions of a configuration file

Identify which settings were changed between the old and new version of a config file.

Input

Text A: timeout=30
retries=3
log_level=info
Text B: timeout=60
retries=5
log_level=debug

Output

Red: timeout=30, retries=3, log_level=info
Green: timeout=60, retries=5, log_level=debug

Review edits made to a contract paragraph

Spot every changed line between an original contract draft and the revised version.

Input

Text A: The payment is due on the 1st.
Text B: The payment is due on the 15th.

Output

Red: The payment is due on the 1st.
Green: The payment is due on the 15th.

Common Use Cases

  • Comparing two versions of a document to spot editorial changes
  • Identifying which configuration file lines changed between deployments
  • Reviewing contract or legal document revisions for changed clauses
  • Comparing exported data files to find rows added or removed
  • Auditing changes made to policy documents or terms of service
  • Comparing two versions of a README or documentation page

Troubleshooting

Expecting word-level or character-level diff highlighting

Solution

This tool performs line-by-line comparison only. A changed line appears as both removed (red) and added (green) — the exact word or character that changed within the line is not highlighted separately.

Whitespace differences not showing up as changes

Solution

Trailing spaces, tabs, or line ending differences (CRLF vs LF) that appear identical visually may or may not be detected. Ensure both texts use consistent line endings.

Reordered blocks showing many red and green lines instead of a swap indicator

Solution

The tool performs a sequential line-by-line diff, not block-move detection. A moved paragraph appears as removed from its original position and added at its new position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the comparison case-sensitive?

Yes. Line-by-line comparison is exact and case-sensitive. A line reading 'Hello' and a line reading 'hello' are treated as different.

What do the colors mean?

Green lines are additions (in Text B but not Text A). Red lines are removals (in Text A but not Text B). Gray lines are unchanged.

Does it detect word-level changes within a line?

No. The tool compares entire lines. If one word changes, the whole line appears as removed (red) and replaced (green).

Can it compare code files?

Yes. It operates on plain text and can compare source code, config files, JSON, YAML, and Markdown.

What algorithm is used for the diff?

The tool uses a standard longest common subsequence (LCS) algorithm, the same approach used by Unix diff and git diff.

Is there a text length limit?

No. Comparison runs locally in your browser. Long documents with hundreds of lines are compared instantly.

Is my text sent to a server?

No. All comparison runs in client-side JavaScript. Your text is never uploaded or transmitted.

Can I compare texts with different line endings (CRLF vs LF)?

The tool normalizes line endings before comparison, so Windows CRLF and Unix LF are treated as equivalent.