Gitignore Tester | Check Ignored File Paths

Test file paths against your .gitignore rules and see exactly which pattern matched, on which line, and whether a negation won. Free, runs offline. Designed specifically for developers and professionals, this free online validator runs entirely in your browser to process tasks quickly and securely. Enjoy unlimited usage with no data tracking and no registration required.

Also known as: gitignore tester · test gitignore pattern online · check if file is ignored by git · gitignore pattern matcher · git check ignore online · gitignore rule tester · why is my file not ignored · gitignore negation tester

git and version control tools

developer utilities

validators

Gitignore Rules

Match Results

Results will appear here. Each path shows whether Git ignores it and which rule decided.

About Gitignore Tester

Gitignore Tester tells you whether Git would ignore a given file path, and which rule made that call. Paste the contents of a .gitignore, list the paths you care about, and every path comes back marked ignored or tracked with the exact line number of the winning pattern. It is the fastest way to answer why a file keeps showing up in git status.

Key Features

Reports the winning rule and its line number for every path, not just a yes or no verdict
Handles negation with ! and applies last-match-wins the way Git does
Distinguishes anchored patterns such as /only-root.txt from floating ones that match at any depth
Supports ** for nested directories, * that stops at a slash, ? for a single character and [Bb] character classes
Treats a trailing slash as directory-only and still ignores files beneath a matched directory
Runs entirely in your browser, so an internal .gitignore never leaves the machine

Use Cases

Work out why a .env file is still tracked before it reaches a public GitHub repo
Confirm a build/ exclusion covers every artifact path a CI job writes on us-east-1 runners
Debug a negation rule that is not re-including a file the way you expected
Check a shared .gitignore against a teammate's paths without cloning their branch
Validate a generated .gitignore before committing it to a new service repo
Review what a vendor .gitignore would hide during a SOC 2 source-control audit

Supported Formats

.gitignore rules

Negation patterns (!)

Directory-only patterns (trailing /)

Globstar patterns (**)

Character classes ([Bb])

Related Keywords

gitignore tester

test gitignore pattern online

check if file is ignored by git

gitignore pattern matcher

git check ignore online

gitignore rule tester

why is my file not ignored

gitignore negation tester

Why is my file still tracked when .gitignore lists it?

Almost always because Git is already tracking it. A .gitignore only affects untracked files, so a file committed before the rule existed keeps showing up until you run git rm --cached on it. The second most common cause is rule order: the last matching pattern wins, so a later negation can re-include something an earlier rule excluded. This tool shows which line won, which separates those two cases immediately.

Privacy & Security

All processing happens locally in your browser. Your data never leaves your computer, ensuring complete privacy and security.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Gitignore Tester used for?

Test file paths against your .gitignore rules and see exactly which pattern matched, on which line, and whether a negation won. Free, runs offline.

Is Gitignore Tester free to use?

Yes. Gitignore Tester is completely free with no usage limits, and there is no paid tier required to use it.

Do I need an account to use Gitignore Tester?

No. Gitignore Tester works immediately in your browser with no signup, login, or email address required.

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