ArcGIS for Desktop

  • Documentation
  • Pricing
  • Support

  • My Profile
  • Help
  • Sign Out
ArcGIS for Desktop

ArcGIS Online

The mapping platform for your organization

ArcGIS for Desktop

A complete professional GIS

ArcGIS for Server

GIS in your enterprise

ArcGIS for Developers

Tools to build location-aware apps

ArcGIS Solutions

Free template maps and apps for your industry

ArcGIS Marketplace

Get apps and data for your organization

  • Documentation
  • Pricing
  • Support
Esri
  • Sign In
user
  • My Profile
  • Sign Out

Help

  • Home
  • Get Started
  • Map
  • Analyze
  • Manage Data
  • Tools
  • More...

Diff

Available with Spatial Analyst license.

  • Summary
  • Illustration
  • Usage
  • Syntax
  • Code Sample
  • Environments
  • Licensing Information

Summary

Determines which values from the first input are logically different from the values of the second input on a cell-by-cell basis.

If the values on the two inputs are different, the value on the first input is output. If the values on the two inputs are the same, the output is 0.

Illustration

Diff illustration
OutRas = Diff(InRas1, InRas2)

Usage

  • Two inputs are necessary for this logical evaluation to take place.

  • The order of inputs is relevant for this tool.

  • If both inputs are integer, the output will be an integer raster; otherwise, it will be a floating-point raster.

  • See Analysis environments and Spatial Analyst for additional details on the geoprocessing environments that apply to this tool.

Syntax

Diff (in_raster_or_constant1, in_raster_or_constant2)
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_raster_or_constant1

The input to which the second input will be compared.

A number can be used as an input for this parameter, provided a raster is specified for the other parameter. To be able to specify a number for both inputs, the cell size and extent must first be set in the environment.

Raster Layer | Constant
in_raster_or_constant2

The input to which the first input will be compared.

A number can be used as an input for this parameter, provided a raster is specified for the other parameter. To be able to specify a number for both inputs, the cell size and extent must first be set in the environment.

Raster Layer | Constant

Return Value

NameExplanationData Type
out_raster

The output raster.

The values in the output will be either 0 if the two input values are the same, or the first input value if they are not.

Raster

Code Sample

Diff example 1 (Python window)

This example performs a difference operation on two Grid rasters and outputs the result as an IMG raster.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"
outDiff = Diff("degs", "negs")
outDiff.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/outdiff.img")
Diff example 2 (stand-alone script)

This example performs a difference operation on two Grid rasters.

# Name: Diff_Ex_02.py
# Description: Determines which values from the first input are
#              logically different from the values of the second input
#              on a cell-by-cell basis within the Analysis window
# Requirements: Spatial Analyst Extension

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"

# Set local variables
inRaster1 = "degs"
inRaster2 = "negs"

# Check out the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")

# Execute Diff
outDiff = Diff(inRaster1, inRaster2)

# Save the output 
outDiff.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/outdiff")

Environments

  • Auto Commit
  • Cell Size
  • Compression
  • Current Workspace
  • Extent
  • Geographic Transformations
  • Mask
  • Output CONFIG Keyword
  • Output Coordinate System
  • Raster Statistics
  • Scratch Workspace
  • Snap Raster
  • Tile Size

Licensing Information

  • ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Requires Spatial Analyst
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Requires Spatial Analyst
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Requires Spatial Analyst

Related Topics

  • An overview of the Math toolset
  • An overview of the Logical Math tools
Feedback on this topic?

ArcGIS for Desktop

  • Home
  • Documentation
  • Pricing
  • Support

ArcGIS Platform

  • ArcGIS Online
  • ArcGIS for Desktop
  • ArcGIS for Server
  • ArcGIS for Developers
  • ArcGIS Solutions
  • ArcGIS Marketplace

About Esri

  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Insiders Blog
  • User Conference
  • Developer Summit
Esri
© Copyright 2016 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. | Privacy | Legal