mintlify__docs/git/log.mdx

---
title: git log
description: Show commit logs
---

View the commit history of your repository.

## Syntax

```bash
git log [options] [<revision-range>]
```

## Description

`git log` displays commits in reverse chronological order (newest first). Each entry shows the commit hash, author, date, and message.

## Common usage

View commit history:

```bash
git log
```

Compact one-line format:

```bash
git log --oneline
```

## Options

<ParamField path="--oneline" type="flag">
  Show each commit on a single line
  
  ```bash
  git log --oneline
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--graph" type="flag">
  Draw a text-based graph of branches
  
  ```bash
  git log --graph --oneline
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-n" type="number">
  Limit number of commits shown
  
  ```bash
  git log -n 5
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--since" type="string">
  Show commits after a specific date
  
  ```bash
  git log --since="2 weeks ago"
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--author" type="string">
  Filter by author
  
  ```bash
  git log --author="John"
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--grep" type="string">
  Search commit messages
  
  ```bash
  git log --grep="fix"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Examples

### Basic log

```bash
git log
```

### One-line format

```bash
git log --oneline
```

Output:
```
abc1234 Add user authentication
def5678 Fix navigation bug
ghi9012 Update documentation
```

### Pretty graph

```bash
git log --graph --oneline --all --decorate
```

### Last 5 commits

```bash
git log -5
```

### Commits by author

```bash
git log --author="Jane Doe"
```

### Commits in date range

```bash
git log --since="2024-01-01" --until="2024-01-31"
```

### Search commit messages

```bash
git log --grep="authentication"
```

### Commits affecting specific file

```bash
git log -- path/to/file.txt
```

## Custom formatting

### Short format

```bash
git log --pretty=format:"%h - %an, %ar : %s"
```

Output:
```
abc1234 - John, 2 days ago : Add user authentication
def5678 - Jane, 1 week ago : Fix navigation bug
```

### Format placeholders

- `%H` - Commit hash
- `%h` - Abbreviated hash
- `%an` - Author name
- `%ae` - Author email
- `%ar` - Author date, relative
- `%s` - Subject (commit message)
- `%b` - Body

## Common workflows

### Review recent work

```bash
git log --oneline -10
```

### See what changed in a commit

```bash
git log -p -1
```

### View branch history

```bash
git log --graph --oneline --all
```

### Find specific change

```bash
git log -S "function_name"
```

This searches for commits that added or removed "function_name".

### Commits not yet pushed

```bash
git log origin/main..HEAD
```

## Navigating log output

When viewing logs:

- Press `Space` to scroll down
- Press `b` to scroll up
- Press `q` to quit
- Press `/` to search
- Press `n` for next search result

## Filtering examples

### Commits from last week

```bash
git log --since="1 week ago"
```

### Commits by date range

```bash
git log --since="2024-01-01" --until="2024-12-31"
```

### Merge commits only

```bash
git log --merges
```

### No merge commits

```bash
git log --no-merges
```

### Changes to specific directory

```bash
git log -- src/components/
```

## Useful aliases

Add these to your `.gitconfig`:

```bash
git config --global alias.lg "log --graph --oneline --all --decorate"
git config --global alias.hist "log --pretty=format:'%h %ad | %s%d [%an]' --date=short"
```

Then use:

```bash
git lg
git hist
```

## Related commands

- [git show](/git/show) - Show commit details
- [git diff](/git/diff) - Compare changes
- [git reflog](/git/reflog) - Reference logs
- [git blame](/git/blame) - Line-by-line authorship