How to use git difftool Command In Git

If you prefer a visual side-by-side comparison of the differences between branches, you can use the git difftool command with a difftool of your choice, such as vimdiff, meld, or kdiff3.

To use git difftool, first configure your preferred difftool:

git config --global diff.tool <tool_name>

Then, run the following command to see the differences between branches:

git difftool <branch1> <branch2>

For example, to use vimdiff to compare the master and feature branches:

git difftool master feature

How to See the Differences between two Branches?

When working on a Git repository with multiple branches, it’s essential to compare the changes between different branches to understand the differences and merge them effectively. Git provides several commands to visualize the differences between branches. In this article, we’ll explore how to see the differences between the two branches step by step.

Table of Content

  • Using git diff Command
  • Using git difftool Command
  • Using git log Command
  • Using Gitk
  • Using External Diff Tools
  • Viewing Commit Differences
  • Comparing Merged History
  • Conclusion

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Using git diff Command

The git diff command is the most straightforward way to see the differences between the two branches. It displays the differences between the working directory and the staging area or between two commits, branches, or tags....

Using git difftool Command

If you prefer a visual side-by-side comparison of the differences between branches, you can use the git difftool command with a difftool of your choice, such as vimdiff, meld, or kdiff3....

Using git log Command

Another way to visualize the differences between branches is by using the git log command with the –left-right option. This option shows which commits are unique to each branch....

Using Gitk

Gitk is a graphical history viewer for Git repositories. It can also be used to visualize the differences between two branches:...

Using External Diff Tools

Git allows you to configure and use external diff tools like meld, kdiff3, or beyond compare. To use an external diff tool for comparing two branches, run:...

Viewing Commit Differences

To see the commits that are on one branch but not on another, you can use:...

Comparing Merged History

To see what changes were introduced by merging a branch, use:...

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between two branches is crucial for managing changes in a Git repository effectively. By using commands like git diff, git difftool, and git log, you can easily visualize and analyze the changes between branches, making it easier to merge changes and collaborate with your team....