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diff3

file managementLinux/Unix
The diff3 command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. diff3 Sample fallback description for diff3
See ExamplesView Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

diff3

Category:

file management

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

diff3 mine.txt original.txt yours.txt

Common Use Cases

  • 1

    Three-way file comparison

    Compare three files to identify differences and common elements

  • 2

    Conflict resolution

    Resolve merge conflicts when two people modify the same file

  • 3

    File merging

    Merge changes from multiple sources into a single file

  • 4

    Version control

    Compare original, modified, and third-party versions of a file

Syntax

diff3 [OPTION]... [FILE]...

Options

Option Description
-l Use a long listing format
-a Show hidden entries starting with .
-h Human-readable sizes
-R List subdirectories recursively

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the diff3 command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

Basic Examples:

ls
List files in the current directory.
ls -l
List files in long format with details.
ls -a
List all files including hidden ones.

Advanced Examples:

ls -lah Detailed list with human-readable sizes. ls -R List directories recursively.

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

These are sample notes for the diff3 command.

Tips & Tricks

1

Use the -m option to merge the files

2

Use the -E option to ignore changes made in either file1 or file2

3

Use the -A option to treat all files as text

4

Use the -i option to ignore case differences

5

Use the -x pattern option to exclude files matching a pattern

Common Use Cases

Three-way file comparison

Compare three files to identify differences and common elements

Conflict resolution

Resolve merge conflicts when two people modify the same file

File merging

Merge changes from multiple sources into a single file

Version control

Compare original, modified, and third-party versions of a file

Collaborative editing

Reconcile different edits to the same document

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside diff3 or serve similar purposes:

diff
sdiff
merge
patch
git merge
vimdiff
cmp
colordiff
Explore All Commands

Use Cases

1

Three-way file comparison

Compare three files to identify differences and common elements

2

Conflict resolution

Resolve merge conflicts when two people modify the same file

3

File merging

Merge changes from multiple sources into a single file

4

Version control

Compare original, modified, and third-party versions of a file

5

Collaborative editing

Reconcile different edits to the same document

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the diff3 command works in different scenarios.

See ExamplesTry Lab Exercises
$ diff3
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