NAME

cmp − compare two files

SYNOPSIS

cmp [ −l ] [ −s ] file1 file2

DESCRIPTION

The two files are compared.  (If file1 is −, the standard input is used.)  Under default options, cmp makes no comment if the files are the same; if they differ, it announces the byte and line number at which the difference occurred.  If one file is an initial subsequence of the other, that fact is noted. 

Options:

−l Print the byte number (decimal) and the differing bytes (octal) for each difference. 

−s Print nothing for differing files; return codes only. 

EXAMPLE

cmp alpha beta

will report if the files are different and at what point they differ, such as:

alpha beta differ: char 33, line 2

SEE ALSO

comm(1), diff(1). 

DIAGNOSTICS

Exit code 0 is returned for identical files, 1 for different files, and 2 for an inaccessible or missing argument. 

Version 2.5r1  —  October 29, 1986