---
name: "bzdiff"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "bzip2"
version: "1.0.8-6"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bzdiff"
---

# bzdiff(1)

compare bzip2 compressed files

## NAME

bzcmp, bzdiff - compare bzip2 compressed files

## SYNOPSIS

**bzcmp** \[ cmp\_options \] file1 \[ file2 \]\
 **bzdiff** \[ diff\_options \] file1 \[ file2 \]

## DESCRIPTION

*Bzcmp* and  *bzdiff* are used to invoke the *cmp* or the *diff* program on bzip2 compressed files.  All options specified are passed directly to *cmp* or *diff*. If only 1 file is specified, then the files compared are *file1* and an uncompressed *file1*.bz2. If two files are specified, then they are uncompressed if necessary and fed to *cmp* or *diff*. The exit status from  *cmp* or *diff* is preserved.

## SEE ALSO

[cmp(1)](/cmp/1.md), [diff(1)](/diff/1.md), [bzmore(1)](/bzmore/1.md), [bzless(1)](/bzless/1.md), [bzgrep(1)](/bzgrep/1.md), [bzip2(1)](/bzip2/1.md)

## BUGS

Messages from the *cmp* or *diff* programs refer to temporary filenames instead of those specified.