Where do I put the .gitignore file?

Place it in your repository's root folder, named exactly .gitignore. Git then ignores the matching files across the whole project.

Can I combine multiple languages and systems?

Yes. Select every stack and operating system you use and the rules are merged into one file.

Will it stop tracking files I already committed?

No. .gitignore only affects untracked files. To stop tracking something already committed, remove it from the index with 'git rm --cached'.

Generators

.gitignore Generator

Build a .gitignore file from common language and OS templates.

Free browser toolRuns in your browserNo sign-up

Choose templates

.gitignore

# Node
node_modules/
npm-debug.log*
yarn-debug.log*
yarn-error.log*
.pnpm-debug.log*
dist/
build/
coverage/
.env
.env.local

# macOS
.DS_Store
.AppleDouble
.LSOverride
Icon
._*

# VS Code
.vscode/*
!.vscode/settings.json
!.vscode/extensions.json

About the .gitignore Generator

A .gitignore file tells Git which files and folders to leave out of version control, like dependencies, build output, logs and editor settings.

Pick the languages, frameworks and operating systems you use and this tool combines well-known ignore rules into a single, ready-to-use .gitignore file.

It runs entirely in your browser, so you can copy the result straight into your project.

Key features

Templates for popular languages and stacks
OS and editor rules (macOS, Windows, VS Code, JetBrains)
Combine multiple templates at once
One-click copy

How to use

1Select the templates that match your project.
2The combined .gitignore updates instantly.
3Copy it into a file named .gitignore at your project root.

Examples

Ignore Node project files

Input: Node template

Output: .gitignore rules including node_modules and common local files

Combine templates when a repository contains more than one technology.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I put the .gitignore file?: Place it in your repository's root folder, named exactly .gitignore. Git then ignores the matching files across the whole project.
Can I combine multiple languages and systems?: Yes. Select every stack and operating system you use and the rules are merged into one file.
Will it stop tracking files I already committed?: No. .gitignore only affects untracked files. To stop tracking something already committed, remove it from the index with 'git rm --cached'.

Open a related tool to prepare your files or refine the finished result.