noun
1Computing
A program that compares files in order to determine how or whether they differ.‘the drawback to this is that the diff does not indicate metadata changes’- ‘given two files, the diff program generates a listing that highlights the differences between them’
2A set of gears allowing a motor vehicle's driven wheels to revolve at different speeds when going around corners; a differential gear.
3 informal A difference.
- ‘what is the diff between monkeys and apes?’
verb
[with object]ComputingCompare (files) in order to determine how or whether they differ.
- ‘you should be able to diff the two files, thereby speeding up this step considerably’
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