# Compare byte sequences and keep valid work on a refusal

Find one changed byte and see why malformed input cannot silently overwrite the current buffer.

Source: https://help.smartfact.ai/octetbench/guides/compare-and-refuse

Audience: Operator

Find one changed byte and see why malformed input cannot silently overwrite the current buffer. This is isolated practice with invented records. Nothing is uploaded or written into a live system.

## Compare byte sequences and keep valid work on a refusal

1. **Choose hexadecimal input**

   Choose hexadecimal input.

   Hexadecimal describes the bytes directly, without relying on a pasted line ending.

2. **Enter the current bytes**

   Enter the current bytes.

   Use three known bytes so the differing position is easy to identify.

3. **Apply the current buffer**

   Apply the current buffer.

   The current sequence is A, B, C. The comparison will not change it.

4. **Enter the other sequence**

   Enter the other sequence.

   Only the final byte changes from 43 to 44. There is no trimming, text matching or automatic correction.

5. **Compare all byte positions**

   Compare all byte positions.

   The result counts every differing position, including missing bytes. The table preview is limited, but the count covers both complete inputs.

6. **Enter incomplete hexadecimal input**

   Enter incomplete hexadecimal input.

   A byte needs two valid hexadecimal digits. This input must not replace the current buffer.

7. **Read the input refusal**

   Read the input refusal.

   The current bytes are kept. Correct the staged input deliberately before applying it again.

[Watch or practise this chapter](https://help.smartfact.ai/octetbench/demo?guide=compare-and-refuse&chapter=compare-and-refuse&audience=office)

Review the result and its limits before using it in another application.