---
name: "xzdiff"
section: "1"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xzdiff"
---

# xzdiff(1)

compare compressed files

## NAME

**zcmp**, **zdiff** – compare compressed files

## SYNOPSIS

**zcmp** \[*options*\] *file* \[*file2*\]

**zdiff** \[*options*\] *file* \[*file2*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**zcmp** and **zdiff** are filters that invoke [cmp(1)](/cmp/1.md) or [diff(1)](/diff/1.md) respectively to compare compressed files. Any *options* that are specified are passed to [cmp(1)](/cmp/1.md) or [diff(1)](/diff/1.md).

If only *file1* is specified, it is compared against a file with the same name, but with the extension removed. When both *file1* or *file2* are specified, either file may be compressed.

Extensions handled by [gzip(1)](/gzip/1.md):

- z, Z,

- gz,

- taz,

- tgz.

Extensions handled by [bzip2(1)](/bzip2/1.md):

- bz,

- bz2,

- tbz,

- tbz2.

Extensions handled by [xz(1)](/xz/1.md):

- lzma,

- xz,

- tlz,

- txz.

## ENVIRONMENT

- TMPDIR

  Directory in which to place temporary files. If unset, */tmp* is used.

## FILES

- */tmp/zcmp.XXXXXXXXXX*

  Temporary file for **zcmp**.

- */tmp/zdiff.XXXXXXXXXX*

  Temporary file for **zdiff**.

## SEE ALSO

[bzip2(1)](/bzip2/1.md), [cmp(1)](/cmp/1.md), [diff(1)](/diff/1.md), [gzip(1)](/gzip/1.md), [xz(1)](/xz/1.md)

## CAVEATS

**zcmp** and **zdiff** rely solely on the file extension to determine what is, or is not, a compressed file. Consequently, the following are not supported as arguments:

- directories

- device special files

- filenames indicating the standard input (“-”)