Help:Diff
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Help:Diff is a Wikipedia help page that provides guidance on understanding and using the diff feature on Wikipedia. A diff is a display of the differences between two versions of a page, showing how the page has been modified from one revision to another. This feature is crucial for recent changes patrol, vandalism detection, and editorial oversight.
Overview
A diff, short for difference, highlights the changes between two versions of a page history. When editors make changes to a page, each revision is saved and can be compared side-by-side through the diff feature. This allows users to see added, deleted, or altered text. The diff page is accessible from a page's history, user contributions, recent changes, and other change lists.
Accessing Diffs
Diffs can be accessed in several ways on Wikipedia:
- History links: Each page has a "View history" tab at the top. Clicking on this link will display the page's revision history, and clicking on the "diff" link next to each revision will show the changes made in that edit.
- User contributions: The contributions page for each user also provides diff links to compare any selected edit with the previous version.
- Watchlist: Users who have created an account can maintain a watchlist. The watchlist page provides diff links to view changes to watched pages.
- Recent changes: This page lists all the latest edits across Wikipedia, with links to view the diffs.
Reading a Diff
A diff page consists of two columns:
- The left column shows the older version of the text, while the right column shows the newer version.
- Text that has been removed in the newer version is highlighted in red in the left column.
- Text that has been added in the newer version is highlighted in green in the right column.
- Unchanged text is displayed on both sides to provide context.
Why Diffs are Important
Diffs are essential for maintaining the quality and reliability of articles on Wikipedia. They are used to:
- Track changes made by other editors.
- Revert vandalism and unconstructive edits.
- Verify the accuracy and appropriateness of edits.
- Discuss specific changes on talk pages for better collaboration.
See Also
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
