Node.js .gitignore File Generator
Generate a production-ready .gitignore file tailored for Node.js and npm/yarn/pnpm projects. Select your framework, build tools, and IDE to get a comprehensive ignore list. The file is assembled client-side — just copy and paste into your project root.
.gitignore Generator
Select templates for your project stack to generate a comprehensive .gitignore file. Combine multiple templates and add custom rules.
.gitignore Preview
About .gitignore
- .gitignore tells Git which files and directories to skip when tracking changes in your repository.
- Place the file at the root of your repository. Patterns apply recursively to all subdirectories.
- Lines starting with
#are comments. Use!to negate a pattern and re-include a file. - Trailing
/matches only directories.*matches anything except/,**matches everything including nested paths. - Everything runs in your browser — no data is sent over the network.
What should a Node.js .gitignore include?
A proper Node.js .gitignore file should exclude node_modules/ (which can contain thousands of files), build output directories like dist/ and .next/, environment files (.env, .env.local) that contain secrets, package manager debug logs (npm-debug.log, yarn-error.log), and coverage reports. Without a .gitignore, your repository bloats in size and risks exposing sensitive credentials.
Common use cases
Every Node.js project — whether Express, Next.js, Nuxt, Nest, or vanilla Node — needs a .gitignore. This generator is especially useful when starting new projects, adding TypeScript or a build tool to an existing project, or migrating between package managers. It saves time over manually writing rules and helps ensure nothing critical is accidentally committed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I commit node_modules to Git?
No. The node_modules directory should always be in .gitignore. It can contain hundreds of megabytes of files that are fully reproducible from package.json and lock files. Committing it bloats repository size and causes constant merge conflicts.
Should I commit .env files?
Never commit .env files that contain secrets like API keys, database passwords, or tokens. Add .env and .env.local to .gitignore. You can commit a .env.example file with placeholder values to document required variables for your team.
Related Generate Tools
Grid Generator
Build CSS grid layouts visually with columns, rows, gap, item placement, and presets
Border Radius Generator
Design CSS border-radius visually with per-corner controls, unit selection, and presets
Text Shadow Generator
Design CSS text shadows visually with multiple layers, presets, and live preview
CSS Animation Generator
Build CSS keyframe animations visually with presets, live preview, and copy-ready code