# mc diff

LLMS index: [llms.txt](/llms.txt)

---

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## Syntax {#syntax}

The [`mc diff`](#command-mc.diff) mc computes the differences between two filesystem directories or MinIO buckets. [`mc diff`](#command-mc.diff) lists only those objects which are missing or which differ in size. [`mc diff`](#command-mc.diff) does **not** compare the contents of objects.

**EXAMPLE**

The following command computes the difference between an object on a local filesystem and an object in the `mydata` bucket on the `myminio` MinIO deployment:

```shell
mc diff ~/mydata/myobject.txt myminio/mydata/myobject.txt
```

**SYNTAX**

The [`mc diff`](#command-mc.diff) command has the following syntax:

```shell
mc [GLOBALFLAGS] diff SOURCE TARGET
```

- Brackets `[]` indicate optional parameters.
- Parameters sharing a line are mutually dependent.
- Parameters separated using the pipe `|` operator are mutually exclusive.

Copy the example to a text editor and modify as-needed before running the command in the terminal/shell.

### Parameters {#parameters}

##### `SOURCE` {#mc.diff.SOURCE}

*mc-cmd*

*Required* The object to compare to the `TARGET`.

For an object from MinIO, specify the [`alias`](/reference/minio-mc/mc-alias/#command-mc.alias) and the full path to that object (e.g. bucket and path to object). For example:

```text
mc diff play/mybucket/object.txt ~/mydata/object.txt
```

For an object from a local filesystem, specify the full path to that object. For example:

```text
mc diff ~/mydata/object.txt play/mybucket/object.txt
```

##### `TARGET` {#mc.diff.TARGET}

*mc-cmd*

*Required* The object to compare to the `SOURCE`.

For an object from MinIO, specify the [`alias`](/reference/minio-mc/mc-alias/#command-mc.alias) and the full path to that object (e.g. bucket and path to object). For example:

```text
mc diff play/mybucket/object.txt ~/mydata/object.txt
```

For an object from a local filesystem, specify the full path to that object. For example:

```text
mc diff ~/mydata/object.txt play/mybucket/object.txt
```

### Global Flags {#global-flags}

This command supports any of the [global flags](/reference/minio-mc/#minio-mc-global-options).

## Examples {#examples}

The following example assumes that the `play` alias exists in the [`mc`](/reference/minio-mc/#command-mc) [configuration file](/reference/minio-mc/#mc-configuration). You can replace `play` with the alias for your preferred S3-compatible deployment.

See [`mc alias`](/reference/minio-mc/mc-alias/#command-mc.alias) for more information on aliases.

```shell
mc diff play/bucket1 play/bucket2
```

## Behavior {#behavior}

### Output Legend {#output-legend}

[`mc diff`](#command-mc.diff) uses the following legend when formatting the diff output:

```text
FIRST < SECOND - object exists only in FIRST
FIRST > SECOND - object exists only in SECOND
FIRST ! SECOND - Newer object exists in FIRST
```

### S3 Compatibility {#s3-compatibility}

SILO is the supported server for PGSTY mcli; compatibility with upstream MinIO and other S3 services is [best effort](/reference/minio-mc/#command-mc).