Diff Highlighter Side-by-Side

Software Development

Compare code versions, review pull requests, and track changes in source files.

• Code review and version control
• Bug fix analysis
• Configuration file comparison

Document Editing

Track manuscript revisions, editorial changes, and content modifications.

• Editorial review processes
• Legal document comparison
• Content version tracking

Myers Diff Algorithm

Our diff highlighter is based on the Myers algorithm, which efficiently finds the shortest edit sequence between two texts. This algorithm forms the foundation of most modern diff tools including Git and is optimized for both accuracy and performance.

Word vs Character Level Comparison

Step 1: Prepare Your Texts

Ensure both versions are ready for comparison:

• Use consistent encoding (UTF-8 recommended)
• Normalize line endings if needed
• Remove unnecessary formatting if focusing on content
• Consider whitespace handling preferences

Step 2: Choose Comparison Mode

Select the appropriate comparison level:

Step 3: Analyze Results

Understand the highlighted differences:

Move Detection

Advanced algorithms can detect when content has been moved rather than deleted and re-added:

• Identifies relocated paragraphs and sections
• Distinguishes moves from delete/insert operations
• Reduces visual noise in diff output
• Provides clearer understanding of document restructuring

Whitespace Handling

Flexible whitespace handling options for different comparison needs:

Context Lines

Control how much surrounding context is shown around changes:

• Adjustable context window size
• Helps understand change impact
• Reduces information overload for large files
• Focuses attention on relevant changes

Software Development Workflows

Diff highlighting is essential in modern software development:

Legal and Compliance

Critical for legal document management and compliance tracking:

• Contract amendment review and approval
• Policy document version control
• Regulatory compliance change tracking
• Terms of service update documentation
• Legal brief revision management

Academic and Research

Essential tool for scholarly work and research documentation:

• Manuscript revision tracking for publications
• Peer review comment incorporation
• Thesis and dissertation version management
• Historical document analysis
• Translation comparison studies

How accurate is the diff highlighting algorithm?

Our diff highlighter uses the proven Myers algorithm with enhancements for better semantic understanding. It provides character-level precision and can detect complex edits that simpler tools miss. The accuracy can be fine-tuned based on your content type and needs.

Can I compare files in different formats?

The tool works best with plain text content. For formatted documents (Word, PDF, etc.), you'll need to extract the text content first. It handles various text encodings and can ignore formatting differences to focus on content changes.

How do I handle very large documents?

For large documents (over 1MB), consider breaking them into sections for comparison. The tool includes optimization features like lazy loading and context limits. You can also focus on specific sections rather than comparing entire large documents.

What's the difference between word-level and character-level diff?

Character-level diff shows precise changes down to individual letters, ideal for code review and catching typos. Word-level diff treats whole words as units, providing cleaner results for document editing. Our tool offers both options automatically.

Can I export or share the diff results?

Yes, you can export diff results as HTML files with preserved highlighting, copy results to clipboard, or generate summary reports. The exported files maintain visual highlighting and can be shared with team members.

Is my data secure during comparison?

Yes, all processing happens locally in your browser. Your documents are never sent to external servers, ensuring complete privacy and security. This also means the tool works offline once loaded.