Git Init
Last updated
git init turns the current folder into a Git repository by creating the hidden .git directory that stores all history. It's the first command you run when starting version control on a new project. After initializing, you add files, make your first commit, and optionally connect the repo to a remote.
Try these in the terminal playground - a real shell in your browser, nothing to install.
Syntax
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
git init | Initialize a repo in the current folder |
git init myproject | Create a folder and initialize it |
git init -b main | Initialize with main as the first branch |
git init --bare | Create a bare repo (for hosting, no working tree) |
Starting a project from scratch
Init, first commit, and connect to a remote.
| Step | Command | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | git init -b main | New repo with a main branch |
| 2 | git add . | Stage all files |
| 3 | git commit -m "Initial commit" | First commit |
| 4 | git remote add origin <url> | Connect to a remote like GitHub |
Git init FAQ
What does git init do?
It creates a new, empty Git repository in the current directory by adding a hidden
.git folder where Git stores all commits, branches, and configuration. From that point on, Git tracks the folder's contents. Nothing is committed yet - you still stage files and make your first commit.How do I set the default branch to main?
Run
git init -b main to initialize with main as the first branch. To make it the default for all new repos, set it globally once: git config --global init.defaultBranch main. Older Git versions default the first branch to master.How do I connect a new repo to GitHub?
After
git init and your first commit, run git remote add origin <url> with your repository's URL, then git push -u origin main to push and set the upstream. Create the empty repository on GitHub first so the URL exists.What's the difference between git init and git clone?
git init starts a brand-new empty repository from local files. git clone <url> copies an existing remote repository - including all its history - to your machine and sets up the remote automatically. Use init for a new project, clone to work on an existing one.Can I practice this online?
Yes. Open the terminal playground to run
git init in a real shell in your browser - nothing to install. Coddy's free interactive Git course also covers starting a repository step by step.Related resources
More Git commands
