---
title: ".gitignore file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .gitignore file is a Git Ignore File. A list of file patterns Git should not track. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/gitignore/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .gitignore files

**.gitignore file: Git Ignore File**

A list of file patterns Git should not track.

## What opens a .gitignore file

- **Windows:** Visual Studio Code, Notepad (built in), Notepad++
- **macOS:** Visual Studio Code, TextEdit (built in), nano
- **Linux:** Visual Studio Code, Text Editor (built in), nano

## What a .gitignore file is

A .gitignore lists glob patterns for files Git will leave out of a repository — build output, dependency folders, .env files, editor cruft. It is plain text, one pattern per line, with # for comments. Adding a pattern does not remove a file already committed: that needs git rm --cached, which is why secrets stay in history long after someone "added it to gitignore".

## Converting it

A .gitignore file is commonly converted to .txt. It is a plain text format, so any text editor can open and edit it directly.

## Details

- **Extension:** .gitignore
- **Full name:** Git Ignore File
- **Category:** Data
- **MIME type:** text/plain
- **Created by:** Git project
- **Format:** Plain text

## Common questions

### How do I open a .gitignore file?

On Windows use Visual Studio Code; on macOS use Visual Studio Code; on Linux use Visual Studio Code. A list of file patterns Git should not track.

### What is a .gitignore file?

Git Ignore File. A .gitignore lists glob patterns for files Git will leave out of a repository — build output, dependency folders, .env files, editor cruft. It is plain text, one pattern per line, with # for comments.

### Can I convert a .gitignore file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.csv — Comma-Separated Values](https://atoneplace.net/file/csv/)
- [.json — JavaScript Object Notation](https://atoneplace.net/file/json/)
- [.xml — Extensible Markup Language](https://atoneplace.net/file/xml/)
- [.yaml — YAML Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/yaml/)
- [.log — Log File](https://atoneplace.net/file/log/)
- [.torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File](https://atoneplace.net/file/torrent/)
- [.dat — Generic Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/dat/)
- [.vcf — vCard Contact File](https://atoneplace.net/file/vcf/)
- [.sql — SQL Script](https://atoneplace.net/file/sql/)
- [.ics — iCalendar Event](https://atoneplace.net/file/ics/)
- [.sqlite — SQLite Database](https://atoneplace.net/file/sqlite/)
- [.db — Generic Database File](https://atoneplace.net/file/db/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)