OS Manuals

/usr/bin/wdiff

GNU diff utilities

From wdiff 1.2.2-r8 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running wdiff --help (exit 0). permalink

wdiff - Compares words in two files and report differences.

Usage: /usr/bin/wdiff [OPTION]... FILE1 FILE2
   or: /usr/bin/wdiff -d [OPTION]... [FILE]

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
  -C, --copyright            display copyright then exit
  -1, --no-deleted           inhibit output of deleted words
  -2, --no-inserted          inhibit output of inserted words
  -3, --no-common            inhibit output of common words
  -a, --auto-pager           automatically calls a pager
  -d, --diff-input           use single unified diff as input
  -h, --help                 display this help then exit
  -i, --ignore-case          fold character case while comparing
  -l, --less-mode            variation of printer mode for "less"
  -n, --avoid-wraps          do not extend fields through newlines
  -p, --printer              overstrike as for printers
  -s, --statistics           say how many words deleted, inserted etc.
  -t, --terminal             use termcap as for terminal displays
  -v, --version              display program version then exit
  -w, --start-delete=STRING  string to mark beginning of delete region
  -x, --end-delete=STRING    string to mark end of delete region
  -y, --start-insert=STRING  string to mark beginning of insert region
  -z, --end-insert=STRING    string to mark end of insert region

Report bugs to <wdiff-bugs@gnu.org>.
Options (18)
OptionDescriptionSource
-C, --copyrightdisplay copyright then exithelp + man
-1, --no-deletedinhibit output of deleted wordshelp + man
-2, --no-insertedinhibit output of inserted wordshelp + man
-3, --no-commoninhibit output of common wordshelp + man
-a, --auto-pagerautomatically calls a pagerhelp + man
-d, --diff-inputuse single unified diff as inputhelp + man
-h, --helpdisplay this help then exithelp + man
-i, --ignore-casefold character case while comparinghelp + man
-l, --less-modevariation of printer mode for "less"help + man
-n, --avoid-wrapsdo not extend fields through newlineshelp + man
-p, --printeroverstrike as for printershelp + man
-s, --statisticssay how many words deleted, inserted etc.help + man
-t, --terminaluse termcap as for terminal displayshelp + man
-v, --versiondisplay program version then exithelp + man
-w, --start-delete STRINGstring to mark beginning of delete regionhelp + man
-x, --end-delete STRINGstring to mark end of delete regionhelp + man
-y, --start-insert STRINGstring to mark beginning of insert regionhelp + man
-z, --end-insert STRINGstring to mark end of insert regionhelp + man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.