Git Log Commands

Overview

The git log command is used to view the commit history of a Git repository. It provides a detailed log of commits, including commit messages, author information, and dates. This document covers the basic and advanced usage of git log.

Basic Log

git log

Displays the commit history of the current branch.

git log

Example

git log

This command shows the commit history with details like commit hash, author, date, and commit message.

One-Line Log

git log --oneline

Displays the commit history with each commit on a single line, showing the commit hash and message.

git log --oneline

Example

git log --oneline

This command provides a simplified view of the commit history with a short commit hash and message.

Log with Graph

git log --graph

Displays the commit history as a graph with a visual representation of branch and merge history.

git log --graph

Example

git log --graph

This command shows the commit history with a graphical representation of branches and merges.

Log with Details

git log --stat

Displays the commit history with a summary of changes for each commit, including modified files and the number of changes.

git log --stat

Example

git log --stat

This command shows the commit history along with a summary of changes for each commit.

Log with Formatting

git log --pretty=format:"<format>"

Customizes the log output using a specified format.

git log --pretty=format:"<format>"

Example

git log --pretty=format:"%h - %an, %ar : %s"

This command customizes the log output to show the commit hash, author name, relative date, and commit message.

Log for a Specific File

git log <file>

Displays the commit history for a specific file.

git log <file>

Example

git log src/main.py

This command shows the commit history for src/main.py, including all changes made to the file.

Log for a Date Range

git log --since="<date>" --until="<date>"

Displays the commit history within a specific date range.

git log --since="<date>" --until="<date>"

Example

git log --since="2024-01-01" --until="2024-06-30"

This command shows commits made between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024.

Log for a Specific Author

git log --author="<author>"

Displays the commit history for commits made by a specific author.

git log --author="<author>"

Example

git log --author="John Doe"

This command shows commits made by the author "John Doe."

Log with Search

git log --grep="<pattern>"

Displays commits that match a specified search pattern in the commit message.

git log --grep="<pattern>"

Example

git log --grep="bug fix"

This command shows commits with messages containing the pattern "bug fix."

Summary

The git log command is a powerful tool for viewing and analyzing the commit history of a Git repository. It provides various options for customizing the log output, filtering by date, author, or file, and formatting the results. For more detailed information on each command, refer to the official Git documentation.