git Verified current stable Not installed? Version Control

Git / Show Repository Browser Specific File Or Directory

Show Repository Browser Specific File Or Directory

Use gitk to explore the history of a specific file or directory in your repository.

$
Terminal
gitk <path/to/file_or_directory>

When To Use

Review historical changes of a file before a major refactor or deletion.

Terminal Output

Expected runtime feedback

Simulated preview
>
Output
$ gitk path/to/file_or_directory

* commit 1234567
  Author: User <user@example.com>
  Date:   Mon Oct 1 12:00:00 2023 -0700

    Commit message for changes to file_or_directory

* commit 89abcdef
  Author: User <user@example.com>
  Date:   Sun Sep 30 11:00:00 2023 -0700

    Previous changes to file_or_directory

Command Breakdown

What each part is doing

gitk
Base Command
The executable that performs this operation. Here it runs Git before the shell applies any redirect operators.
<path/to/file_or_directory>
Input Files
The file path or paths supplied to this command.

How To Run

Execution path

  1. Step 1

    Open your terminal and navigate to your Git repository.

  2. Step 2

    Run the command: gitk path/to/file_or_directory.

  3. Step 3

    Review the commit history displayed in the gitk interface.

Alternative Approaches

Comparable commands in other tools

Alternative version control tools for the same job.