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git Folder

Structure​

.git/                  # Main directory storing all Git-related data
│── HEAD               # Points to the current branch (e.g., ref: refs/heads/main)
│── config             # Stores repository-specific configuration settings
│── description        # Used by GitWeb to describe the repository (not used in local Git)
│── index              # Stores the staging area (information about tracked files)
│── packed-refs        # Stores packed branch and tag references (for performance optimization)
│
├── hooks/             # Contains scripts to automate actions before or after Git events
│   ├── pre-commit     # Runs before a commit is created (e.g., for code linting)
│   ├── post-commit    # Runs after a commit is created (e.g., for notifications)
│   ├── pre-push       # Runs before pushing to a remote repository
│   ├── update         # Runs when updating references on the remote repository
│   ├── ...            # Other sample hook scripts (can be customized)
│
├── info/              # Repository metadata and exclusion rules
│   ├── exclude        # Local repository-specific .gitignore-like file
│
├── objects/           # Stores all Git objects (blobs, trees, commits, tags)
│   ├── info/          # Contains performance-related metadata
│   ├── pack/          # Stores compressed objects for performance
│   ├── xx/            # SHA-1 named directories storing actual Git objects
│
├── refs/              # Stores references to commits (branches, tags, remotes)
│   ├── heads/         # Stores branch references (e.g., main, feature-branch)
│   │   ├── main       # Reference file for the 'main' branch (contains the latest commit hash)
│   │   ├── feature-branch  # Reference for a feature branch
│   ├── tags/          # Stores tag references (lightweight and annotated tags)
│   ├── remotes/       # Stores remote branch references
│       ├── origin/    # Remote repository tracking branch
│           ├── main   # Latest known commit on the remote 'main' branch
│
├── logs/              # Stores history of reference changes (branch checkouts, commits)
│   ├── HEAD           # Keeps track of branch switching and commits
│   ├── refs/          # Logs for specific branches
│   │   ├── heads/     # Local branch history
│   │   ├── remotes/   # Remote branch history
│

Contents​

  • Purpose: Points to the currently checked-out branch.
  • Location: .git/HEAD
  • Contents: Typically contains a reference like ref: refs/heads/main, which tells Git which branch is currently active.

config​

  • Purpose: Stores repository-specific configuration settings.
  • Location: .git/config
  • Contents: Includes settings like remote repositories, user information, and merge behavior.

description​

  • Purpose: Used by GitWeb (a web interface for Git) to describe the repository.
  • Location: .git/description
  • Contents: A simple text description. Has no effect on repository behavior.

hooks​

  • Purpose: Contains scripts for automating actions before or after certain Git events (e.g., commits, pushes, or merges).
  • Location: .git/hooks/
  • Example Hooks:
    • pre-commit – Runs before a commit is created.
    • post-commit – Runs after a commit is made.
    • pre-push – Runs before a push operation.

info​

  • Purpose: Contains metadata about the repository, including ignored files.
  • Location: .git/info/
  • Contents:
    • exclude – A local .gitignore file that applies only to this repository.

objects​

  • Purpose: Stores all the data (blobs, trees, commits, and tags) in a compressed format.
  • Location: .git/objects/
  • Structure:
    • objects/
      • info/ – Optional, used for performance optimization.
      • pack/ – Stores packed objects for efficiency.
      • SHA1-named directories (e.g., e9/) – Each file inside is a Git object.

refs​

  • Purpose: Stores references to commits, such as branches and tags.
  • Location: .git/refs/
  • Contents:
    • heads/ – Contains branch references (e.g., .git/refs/heads/main).
    • tags/ – Stores tag references.
    • remotes/ – Contains remote-tracking branches.

logs​

  • Purpose: Keeps a history of reference changes (like branch checkouts).
  • Location: .git/logs/
  • Contents:
    • HEAD – Tracks changes to the HEAD reference.
    • refs/heads/ – Logs branch updates.
    • refs/remotes/ – Logs remote-tracking branch changes.

index​

  • Purpose: A staging area (cache) for changes before committing.
  • Location: .git/index
  • Contents: A binary file containing information about the working tree.

packed-refs​

  • Purpose: Optimizes repository performance by storing references in a single file instead of multiple files.
  • Location: .git/packed-refs
  • Contents: Contains packed branch and tag references.