VSCODE compare two files

Explore how Vscode makes it easy to compare two files with a practical example.

Comparing Two Files Using VS Code

VS Code is a powerful text editor that can be used for many different tasks. One of these tasks is comparing files. VS Code has a built-in feature that allows users to quickly compare the contents of two files side-by-side. This can be a great way to spot the differences between two versions of a file, or to find where one file deviates from another.

In order to compare two files in VS Code, the first step is to open both files in separate instances of the editor. Once both files are open, you can then go to the File menu and select Compare Files. This will open a side-by-side comparison of the two files.

The side-by-side comparison view shows the two files side-by-side, with any differences highlighted. The differences can be seen in both the text and the line numbers. In the text view, any differences between the two files are highlighted in different colors. The line numbers are shown to the left of the text, and any changes in the line numbers are highlighted in the same way.

In addition to the side-by-side comparison view, VS Code also provides a Diff view, which shows the changes between the two files in a single view. This view also highlights any differences between the files, and can be useful for quickly spotting changes. The Diff view also shows the line numbers, making it easy to compare the files.

For example, let's say that you have two versions of a JavaScript file, main.js and main-v2.js. To compare the two files, you can open both files in separate instances of VS Code and then select the Compare Files option from the File menu. This will open the side-by-side comparison view.

// main.js

const x = 1;

// main-v2.js

const x = 2;

In the side-by-side comparison view, the two files are shown side-by-side, with any differences highlighted. In this example, the difference between the two files is the value of the x variable, which is set to 1 in main.js and 2 in main-v2.js. The difference is highlighted in the side-by-side comparison view, which makes it easy to spot the change.

VS Code's built-in comparison feature makes it easy to spot the differences between two files. By using the side-by-side and diff views, you can quickly compare the contents of two files and spot the differences. This can be a great way to keep track of changes in source code, or to quickly find any discrepancies between two versions of a file.