What is the difference between git show and git log?

git log displays the list of commits (history). git show displays the full detail of a single commit: metadata + diff. Use log to navigate history, show to inspect a specific commit.

How do I view a file as it was at a given commit?

Use git show hash:path/file. For example, git show HEAD~3:src/index.js displays the contents of index.js as it was 3 commits ago.

How do I show only the modified files without the diff?

Use git show --stat to see the list of modified files with stats (insertions/deletions). Or git show --name-only for just the file names.

Can I use git show on a tag?

Yes, git show tag displays the tag information (author, message, date) followed by the associated commit. For an annotated tag, you also see the annotation message.

How do I see the diff of a single file in a commit?

Use git show hash -- file. For example, git show e4f5g6h -- style.css shows only the changes to style.css in that commit.

Git show: inspect a commit in detail

git show displays the full contents of a commit, tag or Git object. The diff, the metadata, everything you need to know about a specific commit.

Practice git show Git Glossary

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Inspection

What is git show?

git show displays the full detail of a Git object: commit, tag, tree or blob. By default, it shows the latest commit with its complete diff.

It's your magnifying glass for examining a commit in detail: who made it, when, why, and exactly which lines changed.

Git show syntax

git show

Display the latest commit

git show <hash>

Display a specific commit

git show hash:file

Display a file at a given commit

Git show in practice

Inspect commits, tags and files.

Display a commit

gitquest — git show

# Display the last commit in detail

$git show

commit e4f5g6h (HEAD -> main)

Author: Marie <marie@example.com>

Date: Mon Feb 10 2025 14:30

feat: add contact form

diff --git a/contact.html b/contact.html

+++ b/contact.html (new file)

Files and tags

gitquest — git show advanced

# View a file at a specific commit

$git show a1b2c3d:index.html

<!DOCTYPE html><html>...

# Display tag information

$git show v1.0.0

tag v1.0.0

Tagger: Pierre <pierre@example.com>

Version 1.0.0 - first stable release

# Compact format (without diff)

$git show --stat HEAD

3 files changed, 42 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

Essential show commands

git show HEAD

Latest commit with diff

git show --stat

Summary of modified files

git show --name-only

List of modified files

git show hash:file

File contents at a commit

git show hash -- file

Diff of a file in a commit

git show v1.0.0

Tag details

Common mistakes with git show

Confusing show and log

show displays ONE object in detail, log displays the history. Use log to search, show to inspect.

Forgetting the hash:file syntax

To view a file at a given commit, it's hash:path (colon). For the diff of a file, it's hash -- path (dashes).

Diff too long

If the diff is very long, use --stat for a summary or pipe to less: git show | less.

Part of the Git History, Search & Debug guide

Related commands

git log

Navigate the history

git diff

Compare changes

git blame

See the author of each line

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