Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare two texts online?
Simply paste your original text in the left panel and the modified text in the right panel, then click "Compare Texts". Our tool will instantly highlight all differences between the two texts. You can also drag and drop text files directly onto each panel.
What is a text diff?
A "diff" (short for difference) is a comparison that shows exactly what changed between two versions of text. Lines that were added appear in green with a + symbol, deleted lines appear in red with a - symbol, and unchanged lines are shown in gray.
Is this text compare tool safe and private?
Yes, absolutely! All comparison happens locally in your browser. Your text data is never uploaded to any server, never stored, and never shared. The tool even works offline once loaded, ensuring complete privacy.
How do I compare text files?
Click the 📁 button next to each text panel to upload a file, or simply drag and drop files directly onto the text areas. We support .txt, .json, .xml, .html, .css, .js, .md, .csv, and .log files.
What does "Ignore Whitespace" do?
When enabled, the comparison ignores differences in spaces, tabs, and other whitespace characters. This is useful when comparing code or text where formatting may vary but the actual content is the same.
How does the similarity percentage work?
The similarity percentage shows how much of the text is identical between the two versions. It's calculated based on the ratio of unchanged lines to total lines. 100% means the texts are identical, while 0% means they're completely different.
Can I compare large text files?
Yes! Our tool can handle large texts efficiently. For very large files (100K+ characters), the comparison may take a moment longer, but there's no hard limit. Performance depends on your browser and device.
Can I compare JSON or code?
Absolutely! Text Compare works great for comparing JSON, XML, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and any other code or configuration files. The monospace font and line-by-line comparison make it easy to spot differences in code.
Is text comparison free?
Yes, Text Compare is completely free with no limits, no registration, and no ads. We believe developer tools should be accessible to everyone.
Can I download the comparison results?
Yes! Click the "Download" button to save the diff as a .txt file. You can also use "Copy" to copy the results to your clipboard for pasting into other applications.
Does the tool work offline?
Yes! Once you've loaded the page, Text Compare works entirely offline. No internet connection is needed to compare texts. This also means your data stays completely on your device.
What's the difference between this and diff tools like Git diff?
Text Compare provides a simpler, more visual interface for quick text comparisons. While Git diff is powerful for version control, our tool is designed for fast, one-off comparisons without needing to set up any software. Just paste and compare!