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.gitignore Generator

Build a .gitignore file in seconds — pick your languages, frameworks, editors, and OS (Node, Python, PHP, macOS, VS Code and more) and copy or download it. Free.

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Pick the languages, tools, and operating systems for your project:

💡 How to use

  • Click the languages, frameworks, and operating systems your project uses.
  • The combined rules appear instantly — copy them or download the file.
  • Save it as .gitignore in the root of your repository.

Free .gitignore Generator

Build a .gitignore file in seconds. Pick your languages, frameworks, editors, and operating systems, and get a combined, ready-to-use .gitignore you can copy or download. Covers Node, Python, PHP, Laravel, React, Next.js, macOS, Windows, VS Code, JetBrains, and more. Free, no sign-up.

What is a .gitignore file?

A .gitignore file tells Git which files and folders to leave out of version control. It keeps your repository clean by excluding things that should never be committed — dependency folders like node_modules, build output, log files, editor settings, operating-system junk like .DS_Store, and secret files such as .env. A good .gitignore keeps your repo small, avoids leaking credentials, and prevents noisy diffs.

How to use the .gitignore generator

It takes seconds:

  • Click the languages and frameworks your project uses (Node, Python, PHP, and so on).
  • Add your editor (VS Code, JetBrains) and operating systems (macOS, Windows, Linux).
  • The combined rules appear instantly, grouped and labelled.
  • Copy the result or download it as a ready-named .gitignore file.

Where to put the .gitignore file

Save the file as .gitignore (note the leading dot and no extension) in the root folder of your repository. Git applies its rules to that folder and everything beneath it. You can also place additional .gitignore files in subfolders for more specific rules. Add it before your first commit so ignored files never get tracked in the first place.

Common things you should ignore

Across almost every project, a few categories belong in .gitignore:

  • Dependencies — node_modules, vendor, and other installed packages.
  • Build output — dist, build, target, and compiled files.
  • Secrets — .env files, keys, and credentials (never commit these).
  • Logs and caches — *.log, coverage reports, and temporary files.
  • OS and editor files — .DS_Store, Thumbs.db, .vscode, and .idea.

What if a file is already tracked?

Adding a path to .gitignore only stops Git from tracking files that are not already tracked. If you have already committed a file you now want to ignore, add it to .gitignore and then remove it from tracking with git rm --cached, followed by a commit. This is especially important for secrets — if a .env or key file was ever committed, you should also rotate those credentials, since they remain in the repository history.

Pro tip

Combine every environment your project touches — for example Node plus macOS plus VS Code — so nobody on the team accidentally commits their editor or OS files. Keep .gitignore under version control itself so the whole team shares the same rules. For related workflows, see our other developer tools like the JSON Formatter and SHA-256 Hash Generator.

FAQ

Is this .gitignore generator free?
Yes. It is completely free, runs in your browser, and requires no account or sign-up.
Where do I save the .gitignore file?
Save it as .gitignore (with the leading dot, no extension) in the root of your repository. Its rules apply to that folder and all subfolders.
Can I combine multiple languages and tools?
Yes. Select as many languages, frameworks, editors, and operating systems as you need, and the tool merges them into one clean, labelled .gitignore.
Why is a file still showing up after I ignored it?
If the file was already committed, .gitignore will not remove it. Run git rm --cached on the file and commit the change. Going forward, Git will ignore it.
Should I commit the .gitignore file?
Yes. Commit .gitignore so everyone on the team shares the same ignore rules and no one accidentally tracks build output, dependencies, or secrets.
How do I ignore a whole folder?
Add the folder name followed by a slash, for example node_modules/ or dist/. This ignores the entire directory and its contents.
Does .gitignore protect secrets that were already committed?
No. It only prevents future tracking. If a secret was ever committed, it stays in the repository history, so you should remove it and rotate the exposed credentials.

Related tools

Pro tip: pair this tool with Upside Down Text Generator and Text Similarity Checker for a faster SEO workflow.