git blame

Learn line authors with git blame.

Introduction to git blame

git blame shows which commit last modified each line in a file. Its output includes the commit ID, author, date, and line content. This helps you investigate who originally added or changed a particular line of code.

git blame app.js

This command lists attribution information for every line in the file. Blame is not about assigning fault; it is a tool for understanding code history.

Reading blame output

In blame output, each line begins with the short ID of the relevant commit. Author and date information follow, and the source code line appears at the end. After identifying the commit that last changed a line, you can inspect that commit with git show.

git blame app.js
git show a12bc34

This approach helps you understand which change introduced the line's latest modification.

Exercise Get blame output for a file

Write the Git command to inspect the author and commit information for every line in routes.php.

Test yourself

Which command shows the commit and author information for the last modification of every line in a file?
- git blame app.js
- git diff app.js
- git status app.js
- git log app.js
Show answer

git blame app.js — git blame displays file lines together with their commit and author information.
Inspect line attribution in a file
```
git ____ app.js
```
Show answer
```
git blame app.js
```
Information in blame output

Commit kimliği

Marks the commit that changed the line
Yazar

Shows who made the change
Tarih

Indicates the commit date
Satır içeriği

Shows the source code text

Next lesson: Line history

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