Patch File Format

A Patch File Format is a file format that encodes code differences between file versions for software patch tasks.

AKA: Diff Format, Patch Format, Delta Format, Change File Format, Difference File Format.
Context:
- It can typically represent Line Additions, Line Deletions, and Line Modifications in text files.
- It can typically include File Headers with file path information.
- It can typically contain Context Lines for patch location identification.
- It can often encode Binary Data Changes using base64 encoding scheme.
- It can often preserve File Permissions and File Attributes.
- It can often support Multiple File Changes in a single patch file.
- It can include Patch Metadata such as creation timestamps and author information.
- It can range from being a Unified Diff Format to being a Context Diff Format, depending on its diff style.
- It can range from being a Text Patch Format to being a Binary Patch Format, depending on its content encoding type.
- It can range from being a Simple Patch Format to being an Extended Patch Format, depending on its feature support level.
- It can range from being a Git Patch Format to being a Traditional Patch Format, depending on its version control system integration.
- ...
Examples:
- Standard Diff Formats, such as:
  - Unified Diff Format with context markers.
  - Context Diff Format with section markers.
  - Normal Diff Format with change commands.
- Version Control Formats, such as:
  - Git Patch Format with commit metadata.
  - Subversion Patch Format with property changes.
- Specialized Patch Formats, such as:
  - Binary Diff Format for executable file patches.
  - XML Patch Format for structured document patches.
- ...
Counter-Examples:
- Source Code File, which contains complete program code rather than code differences.
- Archive Format, which packages complete file collections rather than file changes.
- Log File Format, which records system events rather than code differences.
See: Software Patch, Apply Patch Tool, Code Diff Algorithm, File Format, Version Control System, Git Apply Command, Patch Generation Tool, File Comparison Tool, Text Processing Format, Git Format-Patch Command.