Customizing Log Output

We can customize the git log output by using different formatting options. Common formatting options include –oneline, –graph, –decorate, –stat, and –pretty.

• –oneline: Displays each commit on a single line, showing the commit hash and the first line of the commit message. 
• –graph: Draws a text-based graph of the commit history, showing branching and merging visually.
• –decorate: Adds additional information to commits, such as branch and tag names, making it easier to understand which commits belong to which branches or tags.
• –stat: Includes statistics about file changes (insertions and deletions) in each commit, providing insights into the project’s evolution.
• –pretty: Allows customizing the output format using placeholders like %H (commit hash), %an (author name), %s (subject), %cd (commit date), etc. This option offers extensive flexibility in defining the log output structure.

–oneline

It can be used to display a concise, one-line summary of each commit. For example – 

git log --oneline

–graph

Draws a text picture of the project’s history, showing branches and merges. For example – 

git log --graph

–decorate

Shows the names of branches and tags next to each commit. For example – 

 git log --decorate

–stat

It can be used to get the number of insertions and deletions made in each commit. For example – 

 git log --stat

–pretty=format:”…”

It lets you create a custom format for showing commits. This is the most customizable option. For example, the command below will display commits in a format like abbreviated-hash – author-name, date : commit-message.

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

When working with Git, understanding the project’s history is crucial for effective collaboration and version control. The git log command provides a detailed view of the commit history, but its default output can sometimes be overwhelming or less informative. To overcome these challenges and gain a clearer understanding of your project’s history, you can customize the git log output.

This article will guide you through various customization options to achieve a clearer and more informative Git history.