Community Wishlist Survey 2022/Editing/Better diff handling of paragraph splits

Random proposal ►◄ Editing The survey has concluded. Here are the results!

Better diff handling of paragraph splits

Problem: When an editor adds line breaks to split an existing paragraph, our diff viewer depicts the text as deleted and re-added rather than just repurposed. This makes it difficult to see what text changed between the two paragraphs.
Proposed solution: Directly compare the text changes between the "deleted" text and the new paragraphs, similar to how this handled moved paragraphs. In other words: diff ranks the line break much too high. It should rank it maybe like white space and rank resynchronization higher. Moreover, the differing characters could be shown more pronouncedly and the numbers of characters and their difference shown very similar to the Revision history.
Who would benefit: Editors and diff readers (fairly common type of edit)
More comments: This is a perennial request with continued need. It ranked #9 last year (score) and appeared in the 2019 and 2016 (#13) wishlists.
Phabricator tickets: task T156439, task T7072
Proposer: czar 23:09, 10 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Discussion

Hell, yes! · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 08:41, 11 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. Please keep suggesting this until someone acts. Certes (talk) 18:01, 11 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
I am wholly in favor of this. HapHaxion (talk) 20:15, 11 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Same to me. — The preceding unsigned comment was added by Nomen4Omen (talk)
Same to me, I don't like being removed. Thingofme (talk) 10:26, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
If I am reading this correctly, this is the bane of my existence. Or at least related to my bête noire my blank lines vanishing. Kencf0618 (talk) 01:18, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
While I often get around this flaw by making line break addition and removal separate from other editing, I could stand to see it handled better. Dhtwiki (talk) 03:15, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Absolutely. Hate seeing this whenever I swap text around, or move it down a few paragraphs - this is a must. Fakescientist8000 (talk) 14:36, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
There are tools like en:User:Cacycle/wikEdDiff and de:Benutzer:Schnark/js/diff that handle diffs much better, but as far as I know, they work only on the dedicated diff page, and not in the little pop-up window when you hover over the diff link. Uanfala (talk) 13:03, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
I think the little popup you are talking about is itself created by a user script/gadget, navigation popups. ~~~~
User:1234qwer1234qwer4 (talk) 23:55, 11 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Community Tech has created a project page

Hello there, we have created a project page for the fulfillment of this wish! Please follow along on our progress, we welcome your feedback. Thank you. NRodriguez (WMF) (talk) 18:46, 14 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Voting

Support —The Editor's Apprentice (talk) 18:31, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support —Schazjmd (talk) 18:35, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support * Pppery * _{it has begun} 18:38, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Keith D (talk) 18:58, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support --Mpnader (talk) 19:06, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Danbloch (talk) 19:13, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support --Femke (talk) 19:27, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support KylieTastic (talk) 19:28, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support —MarcoAurelio (talk) 19:55, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support — Draceane ^talk_contrib. 20:58, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support --Yodin^T 21:19, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support See de:Benutzer:Schnark/js/diff for an example of how to handle this.
Qwerfjkl (talk) 22:11, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Tol (talk | contribs) @ 22:15, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Lion-hearted85 (talk) 22:54, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Izno (talk) 22:59, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support -- Guerillero ^{Parlez Moi} 23:43, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support We shouldn't need to keep asking for this. {{u|Sdkb}} ^talk 23:45, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Sakretsu (炸裂) 23:58, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Shuipzv3 (talk) 00:24, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Certes (talk) 00:52, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Kencf0618 (talk) 01:19, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support 𝑇𝑚𝑣 (𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘) 01:20, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Hanif Al Husaini (talk) 01:53, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Betseg (talk) 02:03, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Давно пора. --Флаттершай (talk) 06:40, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Nardog (talk) 08:34, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Graham11 (talk) 08:42, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Curios7ty (talk) 09:08, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Victor Schmidt (talk) 09:29, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support —Bruce1ee^talk 10:13, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support — ElioPrrl (talk) 11:15, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Tranhaian130809 (talk) 11:27, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Terber (talk) 11:55, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Dexxor (talk) 12:07, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Hemantha (talk) 12:11, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Aca (talk) 12:51, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support — SHEIKH (Talk) 13:16, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support --Matěj Suchánek (talk) 13:37, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support BRP^ever 13:55, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Fakescientist8000 (talk) 14:35, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Mbrickn (talk) 15:39, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support HLFan (talk) 16:05, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Saliousoft (talk) 17:41, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support — Jules* ^Talk 18:22, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support WhyIsNameSoHardOmg- - (talk) 19:37, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Juenti el toju (talk) 19:42, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support JAn Dudík (talk) 20:21, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Naa2Darkoa (talk) 20:24, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Encycloon (talk) 22:05, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support OwenBlacker (Talk) 22:17, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Goombiis (talk) 22:21, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support josecurioso ❯❯❯ Tell me! 00:21, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Lectrician1 (talk) 07:20, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support YTRK (talk) 07:41, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support TheInternetGnome (talk) 07:48, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support --Роман Рябенко (talk) 09:41, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Thingofme (talk) 15:15, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Geraki ^T_L 15:20, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Stryn (talk) 17:14, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Titore (talk) 17:42, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Rusalkii (talk) 23:39, 30 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support JPxG (talk) 00:42, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Hkoala (talk) 06:18, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Lfstevens (talk) 06:40, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support DEAR GOD YES! Nosebagbear (talk) 10:20, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Ayack (talk) 10:37, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Trizek ^{from FR} 12:09, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support NaBUru38 (talk) 12:58, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support the wub "?!" 14:18, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support — HELLKNOWZ ∣ TALK ∣ enWiki 15:04, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Hb2007 (talk) 15:55, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support RamónMC (talk) 16:22, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Strong support I see this every day when I split lines for readability. EVERY DAY IAmChaos (talk) 18:01, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Kalendar (talk) 18:05, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Bencemac (talk) 18:10, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Daniel Case (talk) 18:11, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Daimona Eaytoy (talk) 18:41, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Plumbum208 (talk) 18:51, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Modest Genius (talk) 20:23, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Shooterwalker (talk) 22:24, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Normal Name (talk) 22:43, 31 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support DRiveraP (talk) 00:15, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support MONUMENTA (talk) 02:12, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Labdajiwa (talk) 03:45, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Oh, yes, absolutely, please, oh, please. Would be of enormous usefulness. — JohnFromPinckney (talk / edits) 04:34, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Thibaut (talk) 16:19, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Wargo (talk) 21:25, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support -- Ahecht (TALK
PAGE) 21:34, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Novak Watchmen (talk) 22:10, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support MaxBE (talk) 22:31, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support DecrepitlyOnward (talk) 23:34, 1 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Browk2512 (talk) 00:50, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Go for it. Paradise Chronicle (talk) 05:10, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support GAD (talk) 13:37, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Geert Van Pamel (WMBE) (talk) 16:29, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Rzzor (talk) 17:19, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Perennial ;) ~ Amory (u • t • c) 20:30, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support LordPeterII (talk) 22:27, 2 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support DanCherek (talk) 03:15, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Hulged (talk) 06:18, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support YBG (talk) 08:03, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support WikiAviator (talk) 10:13, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Paucabot (talk) 12:29, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support The Grid (talk) 13:40, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support A good reminder. Temp3600 (talk) 14:11, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support GeoffreyT2000 (talk) 15:47, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Vega (talk) 18:24, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Jurbop (talk) 10:14, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Kenraiz (talk) 16:39, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Whisperjanes (talk) 16:43, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Ninepointturn (talk) 17:00, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Mikhail Ryazanov (talk) 20:06, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Simeon (talk) 20:19, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Geniac (talk) 21:00, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Pi.1415926535 (talk) 21:36, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Fuger (Talk) 22:10, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Gary D Robson (talk) 22:38, 4 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support - Darwin ^Ahoy! 00:33, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Please? Do you accept WikiLove kittens as bribes? 🙂Mako001 (talk) 03:51, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support —— Eric Liu_（Talk） 05:14, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Las veces que me ha pasado por la cabeza. Buena propuesta. Virum Mundi (talk) 07:04, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Xurizuri (talk) 11:13, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Sir Proxima Centauri (talk) 11:42, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support I think on some issues the wheels move too slow. Otr500 (talk) 13:49, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Ealdgyth (talk) 16:00, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support USI2020 (talk) 21:20, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support —Thanks for the fish! ^{talk•contrib} (he/him) 21:30, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support A long-standing issue. Waldyrious (talk) 23:13, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Weak support. --InterstateFive (talk) 02:07, 6 February 2022 (UTC) (UTC)[reply]
Support Toadspike (talk) 03:20, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Nkon21 (talk) 03:30, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support--Vulp❯❯❯here! 04:10, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Michael Barera (talk) 06:06, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Ayumu Ozaki (talk) 06:16, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support — Bilorv (talk) 11:22, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support — DaxServer (t · c) 12:45, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Dipsacus fullonum (talk) 14:16, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Mark D Worthen PsyD (talk) [he/his/him] 22:53, 6 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Annablazeprobable (talk) 00:48, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support High time this was handled natively by the software. Uanfala (talk) 13:03, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
SupportAtibrarian (talk) 16:21, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support t34 (talk) 17:09, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Tom Ja (talk) 18:29, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support ~Cybularny ^Speak? 20:41, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Worldbruce (talk) 16:04, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support ~~~~
User:1234qwer1234qwer4 (talk) 18:07, 8 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Ján Kepler (talk) 18:47, 9 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Andrei Romanenko (talk) 02:13, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Wikiusuarios (talk) 20:16, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Barkeep49 (talk) 21:25, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Sgd. —Hasley 22:29, 10 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Yair rand (talk) 00:25, 11 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support 4nn1l2 (talk) 01:09, 11 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support Gaurav (talk) 06:15, 11 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support evrifaessa (talk) 16:53, 11 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Support -BRAINULATOR9 (TALK) 17:10, 11 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]