How Text Diff Works

Diff algorithms compare two pieces of text line by line and identify what's been added, removed, or changed. It's the same idea behind git diff, but you don't need a repo — just paste any two texts.

Practical Uses

• Code review — Compare before-and-after versions of a function when you don't have git handy
• Document comparison — Spot changes between two drafts of a document or email
• Configuration changes — See what was modified in server configs, environment files, or deploy scripts
• Debugging — Compare expected vs. actual output to pinpoint where your code diverges

The diff is rendered with green and red highlighting — green for additions, red for deletions — just like you'd see in a pull request. For structured JSON comparison, try the JSON Diff tool which understands key ordering.