zdiff

Compare compressed files

$ zdiff [file1.gz] [file2.gz]

$ zdiff -u [file1.gz] [file2.gz]

$ zdiff -c [file1.gz] [file2.gz]

$ zdiff -y [file1.gz] [file2.gz]

zdiff [-u] [-c] [-y] [options] file1 file2

zdiff compares gzip-compressed files line-by-line without requiring manual decompression. It works like diff but transparently handles .gz files, decompressing them on the fly before comparing.
All standard diff output formats are supported: unified (-u), context (-c), and side-by-side (-y). Any options accepted by diff can be passed through to zdiff.
The command is part of the gzip package and serves as a convenience wrapper. For byte-by-byte comparison of compressed files, use zcmp instead.

-u

Unified format.

Context format.

Side by side.

Brief output.

Gzip format. Decompresses to compare. Part of gzip package.

zdiff is part of the gzip package, providing diff functionality for compressed files.

diff(1), zcmp(1), zcat(1)