When to ignore whitespace when comparing code
Ignoring whitespace removes noise from reformatted code, but in some languages it hides real changes. Here is how to choose.
1 min read
Compare Python
untitled.py
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NOTHING UPLOADED · RUNS LOCALLY · FREE TO USE
About Python comparison
Compare Python with confidence.
In Python, indentation changes behaviour, so this page only ignores trailing spaces and never collapses the leading indentation of a line.
01
Indentation is code
A line moved one level deeper is reported as a change, as it should be.
02
Ignore trailing space
Safe for Python: it removes invisible end-of-line differences only.
03
Compare notebooks exports
Paste exported .py cells to review changes without the notebook JSON.
Features
Quiet tools, sharp results.
01
Aligned side by side
Two editors scroll together so the line you are reading always faces its counterpart.
02
Every change, coloured
Ember marks edits and removals. Ink marks additions. No other colours to learn.
03
Jump between differences
Step forward and back through each change with a count of how many remain.
04
Ignore the noise
Switch off whitespace and letter-case differences to focus on what really matters.
05
Changes, explained
A line-by-line list says what happened to each line, such as “Friday” became “Monday” or a number went from 3 to 4. Click any entry to jump straight to it.
How it works
Three steps. No account.
i
Paste
Drop the original on the left and the new version on the right.
ii
Compare
Differences are highlighted as you type, line by line.
iii
Decide
Review the summary, swap sides or clear the editors and go again.