gitignore Generator

Select templates in tool settings and optionally paste custom patterns in Input. Output is a starting point — review before committing.

  • Runs entirely in your browser
  • No data stored or sent to a server
  • Free forever — no signup
  • Instant conversion

Input and Output

Use the interactive encoder and decoder on this page to process your text.

Learn more about Config

How to Generate a .gitignore File

gitignore Templates

When to Generate gitignore Files

Bootstrap a new repository with sensible ignore rules for Node, Python, macOS, Windows, IDE artifacts, build output, and env files. Combine templates and add custom patterns for project-specific paths before committing the generated file.

Template Sections

Select one or more templates in tool settings. Output groups patterns by section with comments. Custom lines from the input field append under a custom header — useful for coverage reports, local tooling, or monorepo subpaths.

Developer Tips

  • Review generated rules — templates are starting points, not security audits
  • Prefer gitignore over committing build artifacts or local env files
  • Use negation patterns (!path) sparingly and test with git status

Frequently asked questions

Can I combine multiple templates?

Yes. Enable any combination of Node, Python, macOS, Windows, IDE, build, and env templates.

Does this commit to my repository?

No. Copy the generated text into a .gitignore file in your project and commit through your normal Git workflow.