Compare Writing Drafts in the Browser
To compare two writing drafts in Docify, paste the older version in Original and the newer in Modified, then click Compare. Google's diff-match-patch highlights deletions with strikethrough and insertions in green. Load sample Compare writes a deleted brown beside an inserted red, keeps the shared jump equal and paints a deleted s beside an inserted ed, then a deleted lazy beside an inserted sleeping. Replacements are those two spans side by side — not a Word-style “modified” mark. Nothing is uploaded.
This is a check after you already have two versions on the clipboard, not a live editor. The text diff does not track keystrokes, store drafts, or merge comments. For the algorithm and colors, see compare two texts with diff-match-patch.
Buttons on the page
- Compare — disabled until both boxes have text. Runs
diff_mainthendiff_cleanupSemantic. The result is not live as you type. - Load sample — fills Original with The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. and Modified with The quick red fox jumped over the sleeping dog. It does not click Compare for you. Compare then deletes brown and lazy and the s after jump, and inserts red, ed, and sleeping.
- Clear — empties Original, Modified, and the Differences card. Disabled only when both boxes are already empty.
What a writer will see
Word swaps, not a yellow highlight
After semantic cleanup, jumps vs jumped keeps the shared jump equal and paints a deleted s beside an inserted ed. brown vs red and lazy vs sleeping are whole-word replacements. Equal words stay unhighlighted. There is no third color for “modified.”
No export of the markup
The Differences card is dangerouslySetInnerHTML of escaped spans. You cannot download a patch or copy a formatted review from that card. Keep the two source boxes if you still need the wording.
Count words separately
Text diff does not count words or estimate reading time. For whitespace-split counts on one draft, use the word counter.
What this is not
It is not Google Docs Suggesting, not Word Track Changes, and not a collaboration history. It will not open a .docx — that limit is covered in pasted text vs documents. Privacy holds because the strings never leave the browser; there is still no account and no saved draft.
Compare two drafts
Paste, click Compare, read deletes and inserts. No upload and no Track Changes import.
Use Text Diff →FAQ
- Does the writer comparison upload my drafts?
- No. Original, Modified, Compare, Load sample, and Clear all run in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
- Can I copy or download the highlighted diff?
- No. The Differences card is HTML rendered in the page. There is no Copy or Download control for that result. You can still copy from the Original and Modified boxes.
- Does Load sample run the comparison?
- No. Load sample only fills Original with “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” and Modified with “The quick red fox jumped over the sleeping dog.” You still click Compare. Compare then deletes brown and lazy and the s after jump, and inserts red, ed, and sleeping.
- Is this Word Track Changes?
- No. Docify does not import comments, accept/reject, or show a third “modified” color. A replaced phrase is a red strikethrough next to a green insertion after semantic cleanup.