What is a .gitignore file?

A .gitignore file tells Git which files and directories to ignore in a repository. Files matching the patterns listed are excluded from version control — they won't be staged, committed, or pushed. Common examples include node_modules, build artifacts, environment files (.env), OS-generated files (.DS_Store), and IDE configuration folders.

Can I combine multiple templates?

Yes. Select as many templates as you need and the generator merges them into a single deduplicated .gitignore. This is ideal for projects using multiple languages or tools — for example, a Next.js app deployed on Vercel might need Node, React, Next.js, and macOS templates all combined.

How is this different from gitignore.io?

Gitignore Generator is a fully client-side tool — it runs entirely in your browser with no server round-trip needed. Templates are bundled locally, so generation is instant. The UI is designed to be fast and clean with search, multi-select, and a live preview all on one page.

Should I commit my .gitignore file?

Yes. The .gitignore file should always be committed to your repository. It ensures all contributors and CI/CD systems use the same ignore rules. For user-specific ignores (e.g. your IDE configuration), use a global gitignore file at ~/.gitignore_global instead.

Where should I put the .gitignore file?

Place the .gitignore file in the root of your repository. Git applies it recursively to all files in the directory tree from that point down. You can also add .gitignore files in subdirectories to apply rules only to that subtree, but a single root-level file is sufficient for most projects.

Yes, Gitignore Generator is completely free with no account or API key required. All processing happens locally in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.

Free .gitignore Generator

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.gitignore file

Pick any combination of languages, frameworks, and tools. Get a clean, merged .gitignore instantly — no signup, no install, 100% in your browser.

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100+ Templates

Node, Python, Java, Go, Rust, React, Vue, Django, Rails, Docker, macOS, Windows and more.

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Merge Any Combination

Select multiple templates and get one deduplicated .gitignore file. Perfect for polyglot projects.

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Templates(61 available)

.gitignore

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Pick one or more languages, frameworks, or tools from the left panel. Your .gitignore will appear here instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Gitignore Generator.

Generate the perfect.gitignore file