Vimdiff
Vim Text Editor Quick Reference
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Published Jul 6 2025, updated Aug 17 2026
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LinuxText Editor
Diff mode in Vim stands for difference mode, which lets you compare two or more files side-by-side, highlighting their differences.
To open files in diff mode:
vim -d filename1 filename2Alternatively you can use this instead of the -d flag:
vimdiff filename1 filename2Vim will:
- Split the window (usually vertically).
- Highlight added, removed, or changed lines.
- Enable special diff mappings for navigation and merging.
What you will see:
- Changes are highlighted (often in colour or with symbols like
>or|). - Matching lines are aligned side-by-side.
- You can edit either side interactively.
Diff mode commands
| Key | Description |
|---|---|
]c | Next difference |
]c | Previous difference |
do | Obtain the difference, (can also use :diffget) |
dp | Put the difference, (can also use :diffput) |
:dif | Re-scan the differences after edits, (can also use :diffupdate) |
:diffo | Switch off diff mode, (can also use :diffoff) |
ZQ | Quit without change |