git diff output only changed lines

Question

If I run git diff I get this

diff --git a/README b/README index 8d78ee4..67451cd 100644 --- a/README +++ b/README @@ -1,3 +1,3 @@ dog -cat +fox bird

However I only want this

-cat +fox

I ended up using this

git diff --color | awk '/^\033\[3[12]m/'

out of curiousity: why do you only want the changed lines without any context? If you have multiple changed lines, things will become complicated.... — eckes
– eckes, Commented Dec 21, 2013 at 10:47

thesquaregroot · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-01 14:02:16Z

This works on my system:

git diff --color | grep -P '\e\[3[12]m'

It uses color output to differentiate those lines. By searching for the green and red color markers it should only print the added and removed lines.

This answer may help to understand the color aspect more if you need to modify it.

Ismail Badawi · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-21 07:31:54Z

You can use the -U or --unified flag to specify how much context to show.

-U<n>, --unified=<n> Generate diffs with <n> lines of context instead of the usual three. Implies -p.

You want -U0, or --unified=0.

As far as I know git doesn't provide a way to suppress the header.

That's only a partial answer. For the OP's example, that will suppress two lines out of the seven asked to suppress.

score 0 · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-10 19:19:49Z

sed

git diff | sed '/^i/{N;N};/^[-+]/b;d'

awk

git diff | awk '/^i/{c=NR}NR>c+2&&/^[-+]/'

With both solutions:

3 Answers 3