parinita

• Mar 30th, 2006

 

cmp <filename1> <filename2> gives the 1st byteno and lineno of file1 which is to be changed to make filename1 identical to filename2.

diff gives the text of  filename2 which is different from filename1.

we can use directory name in diff, but not in cmp

wow_suraj

 Profile Answers by wow_suraj 

• May 7th, 2008

 

'cmp' and 'diff' both command are used to list the differences, the difference between both the command is that 'cmp' is used to find the difference between files whereas 'diff' is used to find the difference between directories.

cmp will list the line and column number that are different between two files.

diff will list the different files and sub-directories present between two directories.

UncaAlby

 Profile Answers by UncaAlby 

• May 16th, 2010

 

diff is used primarily for files in text format, for example, source code.  It is used to list all of the differences between two files.

It is often used in source code control to get the changes necessary to update one file to the other.  That way, the source code control system can save space by only storing the differences between versions, instead of complete copies.

cmp is used primarily for binary files, and is generally only useful to answer the question, "Are these two binary files byte-for-byte identical? Yes or No."

Deepak

• Sep 3rd, 2014

 

To check the differences between the data of two files cmp command is used. But it displays only the first difference.
Syn: $ cmp file1 file2
To display all the differences between the files diff command is used.
Syn: $ diff file1 file2
Note: Comparison between the files of different users is possible only when the present working user has the access permission on the other user.

Anupam Kumar

• Nov 2nd, 2016

 

Com - will give the difference between two files; data available only in file 1 or file 2; data available in both the file.
Diff - will give difference between two file in a way that how file 1 and be in sync with file 2.