Diff Formats
Diff tools can display changes in several formats. Understanding them helps you choose the right view.
Side-by-Side
Shows both versions next to each other with differences highlighted. Best for:
- Visual comparison
- Non-technical users
- Short documents
Unified Diff
Shows changes inline with + and - markers. Best for:
- Code reviews (GitHub style)
- Email or chat sharing
- Patch files
Inline Diff
Shows one version with changes highlighted. Best for:
- Presentations
- Quick scans
- Focused review
Reading Unified Diff
- Removed line (red)
+ Added line (green)
Unchanged line (normal)
Lines starting with - are in the original but not the new version.
Lines starting with + are in the new version but not the original.
Lines starting with a space are unchanged.
Our Text Diff tool supports side-by-side view for easy reading.
Try Our Free Text Diff Tool
Use our free Text Diff Tool — no signup, no upload, works entirely in your browser.