Ediff

This file documents Ediff, a comprehensive visual interface to Unix diff and patch utilities.

Copyright © 1995–2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover Texts being “A GNU Manual”, and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled “GNU Free Documentation License”.

(a) The FSF’s Back-Cover Text is: “You have the freedom to copy and modify this GNU manual.”

Table of Contents

• 1 Introduction

• 2 Major Entry Points

• 3 Session Commands

  • 3.1 Quick Help Commands
  • 3.2 Other Session Commands

• 4 Registry of Ediff Sessions

• 5 Session Groups

• 6 Remote and Compressed Files

• 7 Customization

  • 7.1 Hooks
  • 7.2 Quick Help Customization
  • 7.3 Window and Frame Configuration
  • 7.4 Selective Browsing
  • 7.5 Highlighting Difference Regions
  • 7.6 Narrowing
  • 7.7 Refinement of Difference Regions
  • 7.8 Patch and Diff Programs
  • 7.9 Merging and diff3
  • 7.10 Support for Version Control
  • 7.11 Customizing the Mode Line
  • 7.12 Miscellaneous
  • 7.13 Notes on Heavy-duty Customization

• 8 Credits

• Appendix A GNU Free Documentation License

• Index