attributes Git Command Guide
Git attributes provide configuration options for how Git handles files in the repository through the .gitattributes file. Attributes can control text/binary treatment, diff/merge behavior, and export settings for individual files or patterns.
git check-attr Syntax (to query attributes):
Section titled “git check-attr Syntax (to query attributes):”git check-attr [--source=<tree>] [-a|--all] [--] <name> <file>Options (for git check-attr):
Section titled “Options (for git check-attr):”| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -a, —all | List all attributes set for specified files |
| —source= | Check attributes in |
| —cached | Check .gitattributes cached by Git |
| —stdin | Read filenames from stdin |
Parameters:
Section titled “Parameters:”| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| name | Attribute name to check (e.g., text, diff, merge) |
| file | File(s) to check attributes for |
git attributes Command Samples (using git check-attr):
Section titled “git attributes Command Samples (using git check-attr):”Check if a file is treated as text
Section titled “Check if a file is treated as text”git check-attr text myfile.txtShows whether myfile.txt is marked as text.
Check all attributes for a file
Section titled “Check all attributes for a file”git check-attr --all myfile.txtDisplays all attributes set for myfile.txt.
Check attributes from a specific commit
Section titled “Check attributes from a specific commit”git check-attr --source=HEAD^ text myfile.txtQueries attributes as they were in the parent commit.
Check attributes for multiple files
Section titled “Check attributes for multiple files”git check-attr text -- *.txtChecks text attribute for all .txt files.
How do I check if a file has a specific attribute set in Git?
Section titled “How do I check if a file has a specific attribute set in Git?”To check if a file has a specific attribute set, use git check-attr followed by the attribute name and file name:
git check-attr <attribute> <file>How can I view all attributes set for a file?
Section titled “How can I view all attributes set for a file?”To view all attributes set for a file, run:
git check-attr --all <file>How do I check attributes for multiple files at once?
Section titled “How do I check attributes for multiple files at once?”To check attributes for multiple files, use:
git check-attr <attribute> <file1> <file2> ...How can I check attributes as they were in a past commit?
Section titled “How can I check attributes as they were in a past commit?”To check attributes as they were in a past commit, execute:
git check-attr --source=<commit> <attribute> <file>How do I use git attributes to ignore files during export?
Section titled “How do I use git attributes to ignore files during export?”To ignore files during export, add the export-ignore attribute in .gitattributes:
secret.txt export-ignoreApplications of the git attributes feature
Section titled “Applications of the git attributes feature”- Configuring text/binary handling for specific file types
- Setting custom diff or merge drivers for files
- Ignoring files during git archive exports
- Controlling end-of-line conversions across platforms
- Using external tools for specific file patterns
- Managing language-specific behavior for source files