What is git log?

If you've been using Git and running git add and git commit frequently, you might wonder:
"How can I check all the versions I've created?"

The answer is simple: Use git log!

 

 

1️⃣ What is git log?

The git log command allows you to see all the commit history in your repository.
Simply type the following command:

 

git log

 

This will display details about each commit, including:

✅ Commit hash → A unique ID for each commit
✅ HEAD info → Shows which branch you’re currently on
✅ Author information → Useful for collaboration
✅ Commit message → A short description of the changes

📌 Why is the commit hash important?
Each commit has a long hash (e.g., a1b2c3d4...).This is useful when you need to switch to a specific version later.

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2️⃣ Making git log More Readable

By default, git log displays a lot of information, which can be overwhelming.
Here are two useful options to make it more readable.

🔹 1. --graph (Visualizing commit relationships)

 

git log --graph

This option draws a graph to show how commits are connected.
It becomes extremely useful when working with branches.

🔹 2. --oneline (Displaying commits in a single line)

git log --oneline

 

This command simplifies the output by showing only the commit hash (7 characters) and message.

🔹 3. --graph + --oneline (Best combination)

git log --graph --oneline

 

This is the most commonly used combination to keep logs simple and structured.

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🎯 Summary

✔ git log helps you review your commit history.
✔ Use --graph and --oneline to make it easier to read.

Git logs are essential when you need to track changes, revert to previous versions, or collaborate with a team.