Compare files byte by byte

bash

cmp file1.bin file2.bin

Explanation

`cmp` is simpler than diff when you only need to know whether files differ and where the first difference occurs.

Learn the surrounding workflow

Compare similar commands or jump into common fixes when this command is part of a bigger troubleshooting path.

Same sheet · prioritizing diff, cmp, and patch-Oriented Comparison

Compare two text files with context.

Open In sheetbashsame section

Find differences across two directory trees.

Open In sheetbashsame section

Compare files in two visual columns.

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Convert lines into command arguments.

Create chunks of 1000 lines each.

Count and rank repeated lines in a log.