How to use the text compare
- 1Paste the original text on the left.
- 2Paste the changed version on the right.
- 3Choose Lines for code and lists, or Words for paragraphs of writing.
- 4Turn on Ignore case or Ignore extra spaces to hide changes you do not care about.
- 5Read the highlighted result: green was added, red was removed.
How the comparison works
The checker uses the Myers diff algorithm, the same approach behind many version control tools. It finds the smallest set of additions and removals that turns the original into the new version, so the highlighted changes are as short and readable as possible.
Lines or words?
- Lines compares whole lines, which suits code, data files, lists and contracts with one clause per line.
- Words compares word by word inside the text, which suits essays, emails and articles where a single sentence changed.
Ignoring noise
Ignore extra spaces treats runs of spaces and tabs as one, and ignores spaces at the ends of lines, so re-indented code or re-wrapped text does not show up as changed. Ignore case treats "Hello" and "hello" as the same.
Privacy
Both texts stay in your browser. That makes the tool safe for comparing drafts of contracts, reports and code that should not be uploaded to a third-party website.
Frequently asked questions
Is my text uploaded?
No. The comparison runs entirely in your browser.
How long can the texts be?
Up to about 20,000 lines or words combined. Very long texts that are almost completely different are better compared in smaller sections.
Can I compare Word or PDF files?
Copy the text out of each document and paste it in. Formatting is not compared, only the words.
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