Git Course 0%

git log

Beginner Git CLI Safe ≈ 6 min

Summary: git log walks the chain of commits backwards from HEAD (or from any branch, tag or hash you name) and prints them. Every flag either changes the format or filters the list.

Safe — it only reads. Run it as often as you like.

What it does

Starts at a commit, prints it, follows its parent, and repeats. The default format shows the full hash, author, date and message; options shorten it, draw the branch graph, add labels, add file statistics, or restrict which commits appear.

Why it exists

History is only useful if you can read it. git log is the reader; everything else (show, blame, diff) drills into what it lists.

When to use it

  • Before pushing: what am I about to send? (git log --oneline origin/main..HEAD)
  • Finding when and why something changed (--oneline -- <file>, -S "<text>", --grep).
  • Understanding the branch situation (--oneline --graph --decorate --all).
  • Writing release notes (--oneline v1.2.0..main).

When not to use it

  • To see uncommitted work (that is git status and git diff).
  • To look inside one commit in detail (that is git show).

Syntax

Form Meaning
git log Full format, newest first, current branch
git log --oneline One line per commit: short hash and subject
git log --oneline --graph --decorate --all Branch graph with labels, all branches (the git lg alias)
git log -n 5 or -5 Only the newest 5
git log --stat Add files changed per commit
git log -p Add the full diff per commit
git log -- <path> Only commits touching the path (--follow to trace renames)
git log --author=<name> By author
git log --since=<date> --until=<date> By date ("2026-09-03", "2 weeks ago")
git log --grep=<text> Messages containing text
git log -S "<text>" Commits whose diff adds or removes the text
git log <a>..<b> Commits in b that are not in a
git log --pretty=format:"%h %ad %an %s" --date=short Custom line format

Examples

Terminal
$ git log --oneline -5
c541c80 docs: add maintainer note
79c86c5 feat: add Eagle Ridge trail (#21)
dcc61f1 docs: describe the region and answer a data question (#28)
8e4a443 chore: add todo
a32e63b docs: remove tmp
Terminal
$ git log --oneline --graph --decorate -4
* c541c80 (HEAD -> main) docs: add maintainer note
* 79c86c5 feat: add Eagle Ridge trail (#21)
* dcc61f1 docs: describe the region and answer a data question (#28)
* 8e4a443 chore: add todo
Terminal
$ git log --oneline -- docs/faq.md
dcc61f1 docs: describe the region and answer a data question (#28)
2f543f1 docs: explain how to add a trail (#27)
0d9eb38 docs: add map question to FAQ (#9)
8fa922e Initial import of trailguide
Terminal
$ git log --oneline --grep="#21"
79c86c5 feat: add Eagle Ridge trail (#21)
Terminal
$ git log --pretty=format:"%h %ad %an  %s" --date=short -3
c541c80 2026-09-07 Ana  docs: add maintainer note
79c86c5 2026-09-07 Ana  feat: add Eagle Ridge trail (#21)
dcc61f1 2026-09-07 Ana  docs: describe the region and answer a data question (#28)

Full format for one commit:

Terminal
$ git log -1
commit 97773ae0017c4eb07f069e6008fba12c656e0a9a
Author: Ana <ana@northwind-trails.example>
Date:   Thu Sep 3 14:30:00 2026 +0200

    docs: add Windows steps to installation guide (#12)

Expected result

Text only; nothing changes. Long output opens in the pager: Space forward, q quit, /text to search.

Common mistakes

  • Stuck in the pager. Press q.
  • A file name that matches a branch name. Put -- before the path.
  • Looking for uncommitted changes. They are not commits.
  • --since without quotes for dates with spaces.
  • Expecting other branches' commits. By default only the current branch; add --all.

How to undo or recover

Nothing to undo.

In VS Code

Source Control Graph in the Source Control view; Timeline for one file; GitLens for more. See Reading history.

In IntelliJ IDEA

Git → Log tab (Alt+9 / ⌘9) with branch, author, date and text filters; right-click a file → Git → Show History.

git show opens one commit · git blame maps lines to commits · git diff compares two points the log names · git reflog lists where HEAD has been, including commits the log no longer shows.

Lessons that use this command

Reading history · Commits, hashes and history · HEAD, refs, origin · Lab 1.

Key terms

Log Commit Hash (SHA) HEAD

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