---
name: "meld"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "meld"
version: "3.24.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/meld"
---

# meld(1)

Visual diff and merge tool for the GNOME Desktop

## NAME

**meld** - Visual diff and merge tool for the GNOME Desktop

## SYNOPSIS

**meld** \[options\]\
 **meld** \[options\] FILE1\
 **meld** \[options\] DIR1\
 **meld** \[options\] FILE1 FILE2 \[FILE3\]\
 **meld** \[options\] DIR1 DIR2 \[DIR3\]

## DESCRIPTION

**Meld** is a graphical diff viewer and merge application for the GNOME desktop.  It supports 2 and 3-file diffs, recursive directory diffs, diffing of directories under version control (Bazaar, CVS, Darcs, Fossil, Git, Mercurial, Monotone), as well as the ability to manually and automatically merge file differences.

## OPTIONS

- **--auto-compare, -a**

  Automatically compare all differing files on startup.

- **--auto-merge**

  Automatically merge files

- **--comparison-file=\<file\>**

  Load a saved comparison from a Meld comparison file

- **--diff FILE1\|DIR1 FILE2\|DIR2 \[FILE3\|DIR3\]**

  Create a diff tab for the given files or directories. Note that "**meld** --diff FILE1 FILE2" is functionally equivalent to "**meld** FILE1 FILE2".  However, the **--diff** argument can be given multiple times for one invocation of **meld** which allows the user to automatically initiate multiple diffs when **meld** starts. See examples below.

- **--help, -h**

  Print application help and usage.

- **--label=\<label\>, -L \<label\>**

  Set application window title to \<label\>.

- **--newtab, -n**

  Open the comparison as a new tab in an already-running instance.

- **--output, -o**

  Sets the save path for the middle buffer in a three-pane merge view. This is useful for loading the middle buffer from one file and saving it to another, for example in use as a version control merge helper.

- **--unified, -u**

  Ignored for compatibility

- **--version**

  Print application version and exit.

## EXAMPLES

- **meld**

  Run **meld** without initiating a diff.

- **meld** FILE1

  Initiate a diff between FILE1 and the version-controlled copy of FILE1.

- **meld** DIR1

  Initiate a recursive diff between DIR1 and the version-controlled copy of DIR1.

- **meld** FILE1 FILE2

  Initiate a diff between FILE1 and FILE2.

- **meld** FILE1 FILE2 FILE3

  Initiate a 3-way diff between FILE1, FILE2, and FILE3.

- **meld** DIR1 DIR2

  Initiate a recursive diff between directory DIR1 and DIR2.

- **meld** DIR1 DIR2 DIR3

  Initiate a recursive 3-way diff between directory DIR1, DIR2, and DIR3.

- **meld** --diff FILE1 FILE2 --diff FILE3 FILE4

  Initiate a diff between FILE1 and FILE2, and a separate diff between FILE3 and FILE4.

## BUGS

If you find a bug, please report it at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/meld/issues or mail a description of the issue to meld-list@gnome.org.

## AUTHORS

See the AUTHORS text file in **meld's** source code (http://git.gnome.org/browse/meld/tree/AUTHORS).