PDF File Fingerprint and Pasted-Text Comparison
PDF byte comparison SHA256 First differing byte hex Manual text comparison. Compares file bytes/SHA256/header and optionally pasted text, not extracted PDF document content; rename binary comparison or implement PDF extraction.
Scope of this tool: Compares file bytes/SHA256/header and optionally pasted text, not extracted PDF document content; rename binary comparison or implement PDF extraction.
Note: Without a full PDF renderer, this tool compares files at the binary level (sizes, hashes, and optional byte scan). Visual layout differences require a dedicated PDF viewer; for content-only review, use Text Diff with extracted text.
How to use
Pick the mode that matches what you have (files or text).
- PDF Files (binary): choose PDF A and PDF B, optionally set a scan limit, then click Compare PDFs.
- Review the report: sizes, SHA-256 hashes, and (if enabled) the first differing byte + hex preview.
- Text Diff: paste extracted text from each PDF, choose ignore options, then click Compare Text.
- Use Copy report to share results.
FAQ
Does this tool upload my PDFs?
No. The comparison runs locally in your browser and doesn’t send files to a server.
Can it show visual (page layout) differences between PDFs?
No. This version compares files at the binary level (size/hash/bytes). For visual comparison you need a PDF renderer-based tool.
Why do two PDFs with the same content show as different?
PDFs can differ due to metadata, object ordering, timestamps, incremental saves, or signatures even if they look identical.
What does “First differing byte” mean?
It’s the earliest byte offset where the two files don’t match. It’s useful to confirm a real binary change and where it begins.
Is SHA-256 the best way to check if two PDFs are identical?
Yes for exact-file equality: if both SHA-256 hashes match, the files are identical byte-for-byte.
Can I compare PDF text instead of files?
Yes. Use Text Diff and paste extracted text from each PDF to get a readable line-by-line change list.
What are the limits for large PDFs?
Very large files may be slower because hashing and scanning must process many bytes. If needed, set “Scan bytes” to 0 and rely on hashes.
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