Difference between .gitignore and .gitkeep files?

What is a .gitignore file?

It is a text-based file in Git repositories that specifies intentionally tracked files and directories that Git must ignore. Sometimes developers don’t want to add some sensitive file in Git history. There, this file comes in the picture. The developer specifies those files in this file to ignore these files in the git history....

What is a .gitkeep file?

The ‘.gitkeep’ file is not officially git feature. It is a convention used to in Git repositories to ensure that empty directories must be tracked by the Git. By Design Git does not track the empty directories. It can be problematic sometimes when a developer wants to make structure of the project....

Difference between .gitignore and .gitkeep files?

Features ‘.gitignore’ ‘.gitkeep’ Purpose It specifies file and directories should by ignore by git It ensures the empty directory must be tracked by Git File Content It uses filename, and pattern for ignoring the file in Git It is just a empty hidden file in your directory Use Case Ignorind complied files, temporary files, system specific files Keep the directory even if the directory is empty Syntax *.log to ignore all log files It has specific syntax Impact Prevent unwanted to file to tracked in Git Allows empty folder to track in Git...

Conclusion

In Git both files server different purposes. However, .gitkeep is not feature of Git Version Control System. It helps developer to add empty directory for tacking in Git and gitignore file used for untrack important or secrets files in Git history. Together, they maintain clean and efficient code in Git and also increase the productivity of the Developer....