How to compare the file contents of two versions in git

How to compare the contents of two versions of Git files

When using Git, you often need to compare the differences between two different versions of the same file. Here's how to easily compare file contents using Git:

1. Check the status of the file

First, confirm that the file you want to compare has been committed to the local repository. Check the status of the file using the following command:

<code class="shell">git status</code>

2. Use git diff

To compare the differences between two versions, use git diff command. There are two common syntaxes for this command:

• Compare the working tree and staging area (uncommitted changes):

<code class="shell">git diff</code>

• Compare two commits or tags:

<code class="shell">git diff <commit-ish 1> <commit-ish 2></code>

For example, to compare the difference between the current staging area and the previous commit:

<code class="shell">git diff HEAD</code>

3. Understanding diff output

git diff output shows the differences in the files. Each diff block begins with the following format:

<code>@@ -<start line number>,<number of lines removed> +<start line number>,<number of lines added> @@</code>

This indicates that the lines starting at The version contains after line .

4. View diff details

Each line in a diff block begins with the following characters, indicating the type of change for that line:

• - Newly added text
• - - Deleted text
• - Modified text

5. Use visual tools

In addition to text output, you can also use visual tools to compare file differences. Some popular tools include:

• GitKraken
• Meld
• Beyond Compare

These tools provide a side-by-side view that allows you to easily View differences between files.

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