diff
/dif/ 1. A change listing, especially giving differences
between (and additions to) different versions of a piece of
source code or documentation (the term is often used in the
plural "diffs"). "Send me your diffs for the Jargon File!"
Compare {vdiff}.
2. Specifically, such a listing produced by the diff {Unix}
command, especially when used as input to the {patch} utility
(which actually performs the modifications). This is a common
method of distributing patches and source updates.
3. To compare (whether or not by use of automated tools on
machine-readable files).
See also {vdiff}, {mod}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1995-02-10)