Text Diff
Compare two texts line-by-line and see additions and removals.
Both texts are compared locally in your browser, and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Comparing two PDFs instead? Try the Compare PDFs tool.
About Text Diff
This text diff checker compares two blocks of text line by line and highlights exactly what changed between them. Paste an original and a modified version, and it marks each added and removed line and shows a running count of additions and removals. It is a fast way to compare text online when reviewing config edits, comparing log output, spotting changes between two copies of a document, or sanity-checking a paste before you commit it. Built for developers, QA engineers, and technical writers who need a quick text comparison tool to compare two texts. The comparison uses a longest-common-subsequence algorithm to keep matching lines aligned, and everything is processed locally in your browser, so the text you compare never leaves your device.
Features
- Line-based comparison using a longest-common-subsequence algorithm
- Highlights added and removed lines in distinct colors
- Shows a live count of additions and removals
- Keeps unchanged lines aligned for easy scanning
- Handles multi-line text blocks pasted from anywhere
- Updates the diff instantly as you edit either side
- Pauses automatically on very large inputs (over 2000 lines) to stay responsive
- Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device
How to use the Text Diff
- Paste your original text into the left input box.
- Paste the updated text into the right input box.
- Read the diff output to see added lines, removed lines, and the change counts.
- Edit either side and watch the comparison update.
Example
Input
apple
banana
cherry
Output
apple
- banana
+ blueberry
cherry
One line removed and one added; matching lines stay aligned.
Common errors & troubleshooting
- A single edited word shows the whole line as both removed and added. — The diff is line-based, not word-based, so any change within a line replaces that entire line in the output.
- The diff seems to pause or stop on huge inputs. — Inputs over 2000 lines are paused to keep the page responsive; compare smaller sections to see the full result.
- Identical-looking lines are flagged as different. — Trailing whitespace, tabs versus spaces, or different line endings count as changes; normalize the text first.
- Reordered lines show up as both removed and added rather than moved. — A line-based diff has no concept of a move, so a relocated line appears as a removal in one spot and an addition in another.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Text Diff checker?
- It is an online tool that compares two blocks of text line by line, highlighting added and removed lines so you can see exactly what changed between two versions.
- How do I compare two texts with Text Diff?
- Paste your original text on the left and the updated text on the right; the tool aligns matching lines and highlights the differences automatically as you type.
- Is the Text Diff tool line-based or word-based?
- It is line-based and uses a longest-common-subsequence algorithm to align matching lines and highlight added and removed ones.
- Is there a size limit on the text I can compare?
- Very large inputs over 2000 lines are paused to keep the page responsive, so split large files into smaller chunks if needed.
- Can I compare code or config files with Text Diff?
- Yes, paste either version as plain text and the tool will highlight the differing lines, which makes it handy for config edits and log output.
- Is the text I compare in Text Diff sent anywhere?
- No. The Text Diff comparison runs entirely in your browser and the text you paste never leaves your device.
Related tools
All ArrayKit tools