cmp

cmp

The cmp command in Linux is used to compare two files or directories. It is a simple command that can be used to quickly check if two files are identical.

The cmp command is used in the following syntax:

cmp [options] [file1] [file2]

The options can be used to specify the following:

  • -l : Compare files line by line.

  • -s : Silent mode.

  • -n : Compare only the first n characters.

For example, to compare the files my_file1.txt and my_file2.txt line by line, you would run the following command:

cmp -l my_file1.txt my_file2.txt

This command will compare the files my_file1.txt and my_file2.txt line by line. If the files are identical, the command will not output anything. If the files are different, the command will output the line number where the difference occurs.

To compare the files my_file1.txt and my_file2.txt silently, you would run the following command:

cmp -s my_file1.txt my_file2.txt

This command will compare the files my_file1.txt and my_file2.txt silently. If the files are identical, the command will not output anything. If the files are different, the command will not output anything.

To compare the first 10 characters of the files my_file1.txt and my_file2.txt, you would run the following command:

cmp -n 10 my_file1.txt my_file2.txt

This command will compare the first 10 characters of the files my_file1.txt and my_file2.txt. If the files are identical, the command will not output anything. If the files are different, the command will output the first 10 characters of the files where the difference occurs.

The cmp command is a simple command that can be used to quickly check if two files are identical. It is a versatile command that can be used to compare files in a variety of ways.

Here are some additional things to note about the cmp command:

  • The cmp command is part of the coreutils package.

  • The cmp command can be used on any system that uses the Linux kernel.

  • The cmp command can be used to compare any two files that are supported by the Linux kernel.

  • The cmp command is a safe tool to use. It will not damage any files.

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