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[Edit] Git: log #6692

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3fe3170
Refine git log documentation for clarity
Big-Logic May 2, 2025
3947656
Enhance git log documentation with detailed options and navigation tips
Big-Logic May 5, 2025
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130 changes: 122 additions & 8 deletions content/git/concepts/log/log.md
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- 'learn-git'
---

In Git, the **`log`** command is used to track a [branch's](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/git/branch) commit history. After running, it will display project-related information, such as a detailed commit history, which can be used as a reference to go back in time to a previous version of the project.
In Git, the **`log`** command is used to explore the timeline of [commits](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/git/commit). After creating several commits or cloning a repository with an existing commit history, `git log` displays information about commits from the repository history in chronological order (the most recent commits show up first).

## Example
Each commit entry in a standalone `git log` output includes:

- Commit ID: A unique [SHA-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHA-1) or hash ID that identifies the commit.
- Author: The name and email address of the commit author.
- Date: The date the snapshot was taken.
- Commit message: A description of the changes included in the commit.

## Syntax

Below is a short example of how the `git log` command works. Running `git log` will show a list of all previous commits on the current branch:
```pseudo
git log
```

## Example

```shell
$ git log
## Sample git log entry

On current branch
$ git log

commit f5b5bd8f9eaa443d4020cbe918x742e7ddd22000
Author : John Doe <[email protected]>
Date: Mon May 22 14:21:03 2023 -0400.
Author: Big-Logic <[email protected]>
Date: Wed Apr 23 22:12:47 2025 +0530

Commit message tittle

* Commit message description

* Commit message description
```

The first entry in a `git log` output is the commit at which the active [branch](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/git/branch) is currently pointed.

## Options

`git log` provides numerous options that are used for formatting, filtering, limiting, and sorting output. For example, the `--oneline` option displays each log entry as a single line of abbreviated commit hash and message.

### Syntax

```pseudo
git log --option
```

### Example

```shell
$ git log --oneline

3fe31700 (HEAD -> git-log) Refine git log documentation for clarity
b86d023d (upstream/main, origin/main, origin/HEAD, main) [Edit] Python .zip() (#6619)
cd781f26 [Edit] Python strip (#6617)
2394f728 [Edit] Python math.floor() (#6616)
423acf79 [Term Entry]: Add Five Whys (#6537)
```

The example log above shows the different elements that make up a commit, but the most useful is the git hash (f5b5bd8f9eaa443d4020cbe918x742e7ddd22000), which can be used to revert our commit changes using the git revert command.
## Useful options

### Formatting

| Option | Description |
| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--oneline` | Displays each log entry as a single line of abbreviated commit hash and message. |
| `--graph` | Displays an ASCII graph (text based diagram) beside each log entry. |
| `--stat` | Shows statistics for files modified in each commit. |
| `-p` | Shows the full details of the changes made in each commit, also known as patch. |

### Filtering

| Option | Description |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `HEAD` | Shows the commit history of the current or active branch. |
| `<commit Id>` | Starts the log from the specified `<commit Id>`(usually the first seven characters of the commit hash) and shows all commits leading up to it. |
| `<branch>` | Shows the commit history of the specified branch. |
| `<path>` | Shows only commits that changed the specified file or folder. |
| `--before=<date>` | Shows commits made before the specified date. |
| `--after=<date>` | Shows commits made after the specified date. |
| `--committer=<pattern>` | Shows commits made by a committer matching the pattern. |
| `--author=<pattern>` | Shows commits authored by contributor matching the pattern. |

### Sorting

| Option | Description |
| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--reverse` | Reverses the order of commits (oldest commit shown first). |

### Limiting

| Option | Description |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `-n <number>`, `-<number>` | Limits the output to the most recent `<number>` of commits. |
| `--skip=<number>` | Skips the first `<number>` commits and then starts showing the rest. |

## Options combination

Options in `git log` can be combined to better customize the information shown and how they are displayed. For example, using `--graph` with `--oneline` displays each log entry as an abbreviated commit hash and message while displaying an ASCII graph beside each log.

### Syntax

```pseudo
git log --option --option
```

### Example

```shell
$ git log --graph --oneline

| * bd3b2cc (origin/cs1102-unit3) Add flowchart
* | 072ecae Merge pull request #7 from Big-Logic/cs1102-unit3
|\|
| * 62b2b5a Add search functionality
| * 8c5a0bd Enhance student update functionality
```

## Navigating git log

By default, `git log` displays logs in a command line paper program called [less](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Less_(Unix)>).

### Useful navigation keys

| Key | Command |
| ---------- | ---------------------------- |
| `j` | Move down one line |
| `k` | Move up one line |
| `Spacebar` | Move down one page |
| `b` | Move up one page |
| `g` | Go to the top of the page |
| `G` | Go to the bottom of the page |
| `q` | Exit the log |