How can you view the differences between two files?

The most appropriate way to view the differences between two files in a Linux environment is by using the diff command. This command compares files line by line and outputs the lines that differ. It is a powerful tool for identifying changes between text files and is commonly used for tasks such as reviewing code differences, merging changes, or simply checking how two text documents differ from each other.

The diff command provides several options for formatting its output, allowing users to customize how the differences are presented, which makes it versatile for various use cases. For example, it can show differences in a unified format or create context around the changes, helping users understand the modifications in the broader context of the files.

While some other options provided may sound relevant, they do not serve the function of displaying differences between files. For instance, "compare" is not a standard command in Linux for this purpose, and "diffcheck" does not exist as a command. "comm" does compare two sorted files but requires that they be sorted and presents differences in a specific columnar format, focusing on unique lines rather than providing a direct line-by-line comparison like diff does. Thus, using diff is the effective standard approach for checking differences between files in Linux