cmp(C)                          19 June 1992                          cmp(C)


 Name

    cmp - compare two files

 Syntax

    cmp [ -l ] [ -s ] file1 file2

 Description

    cmp compares two files and, if they are different, displays the byte and
    line number of the differences. If file1 is ``-'', the standard input is
    used.

    The options are:

    -l    Prints the byte number (decimal) and the differing bytes (octal)
          for each difference.

    -s    Returns an exit code only, 0 for identical files, 1 for different
          files, and 2 for inaccessible or missing files.

    This command should be used to compare binary files; use diff(C) or
    diff3(C) to compare text files.

 See also

    comm(C), diff(C), diff3(C)

 Standards conformance

    cmp is conformant with:

    AT&T SVID Issue 2;
    and X/Open Portability Guide, Issue 3, 1989.