Merge branch 'maint'

[git.git] / Documentation / diff-format.txt

diff --git a/Documentation/diff-format.txt b/Documentation/diff-format.txt
index 2c3a4c433b2a6d2b0846243a4f1dbebeed45236e..400cbb3b1c120b93278472678ee7bdb87a74f95b 100644 (file)
--- a/Documentation/diff-format.txt
+++ b/Documentation/diff-format.txt
@@ -84,3 +84,64 @@ all parents.
 
 
 include::diff-generate-patch.txt[]
+
+
+other diff formats
+------------------
+
+The `--summary` option describes newly added, deleted, renamed and
+copied files.  The `--stat` option adds diffstat(1) graph to the
+output.  These options can be combined with other options, such as
+`-p`, and are meant for human consumption.
+
+When showing a change that involves a rename or a copy, `--stat` output
+formats the pathnames compactly by combining common prefix and suffix of
+the pathnames.  For example, a change that moves `arch/i386/Makefile` to
+`arch/x86/Makefile` while modifying 4 lines will be shown like this:
+
+------------------------------------
+arch/{i386 => x86}/Makefile    |   4 +--
+------------------------------------
+
+The `--numstat` option gives the diffstat(1) information but is designed
+for easier machine consumption.  An entry in `--numstat` output looks
+like this:
+
+----------------------------------------
+1      2       README
+3      1       arch/{i386 => x86}/Makefile
+----------------------------------------
+
+That is, from left to right:
+
+. the number of added lines;
+. a tab;
+. the number of deleted lines;
+. a tab;
+. pathname (possibly with rename/copy information);
+. a newline.
+
+When `-z` output option is in effect, the output is formatted this way:
+
+----------------------------------------
+1      2       README NUL
+3      1       NUL arch/i386/Makefile NUL arch/x86/Makefile NUL
+----------------------------------------
+
+That is:
+
+. the number of added lines;
+. a tab;
+. the number of deleted lines;
+. a tab;
+. a NUL (only exists if renamed/copied);
+. pathname in preimage;
+. a NUL (only exists if renamed/copied);
+. pathname in postimage (only exists if renamed/copied);
+. a NUL.
+
+The extra `NUL` before the preimage path in renamed case is to allow
+scripts that read the output to tell if the current record being read is
+a single-path record or a rename/copy record without reading ahead.
+After reading added and deleted lines, reading up to `NUL` would yield
+the pathname, but if that is `NUL`, the record will show two paths.