Git Tag
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git tag marks a specific commit with a name - usually a release version like v1.0.0. Tags come in two forms: lightweight (just a name pointing at a commit) and annotated (a full object with a message, author, and date). Tags aren't pushed automatically, so you push them separately.
Try these in the terminal playground - a real shell in your browser, nothing to install.
Syntax
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
git tag v1.0.0 | Create a lightweight tag on HEAD |
git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "Release 1.0" | Create an annotated tag with a message |
git tag -a v1.0.0 <hash> | Tag a specific past commit |
git tag | List all tags |
git push origin v1.0.0 | Push one tag to the remote |
git push --tags | Push all tags |
git tag -d v1.0.0 | Delete a local tag |
lightweight vs annotated
| Lightweight | Annotated | |
|---|---|---|
| Stores a message | No | Yes |
| Records author & date | No | Yes |
| Good for releases | No | Yes |
Git tag FAQ
How do I create a tag in Git?
For a quick marker, run
git tag <name> (a lightweight tag on the current commit). For a release, create an annotated tag: git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "Release 1.0", which stores a message, author, and date. Add a commit hash at the end to tag an older commit.What's the difference between lightweight and annotated tags?
A lightweight tag is just a name pointing at a commit - no extra data. An annotated tag is a full Git object with a message, tagger name, and date, and it can be verified. Use annotated tags for releases; lightweight tags are fine for temporary or private markers.
How do I push tags to the remote?
Tags aren't included in a normal
git push. Push a specific tag with git push origin <tagname>, or push every tag at once with git push --tags. This trips people up - a tag you created stays local until you push it.How do I delete a tag?
Delete a local tag with
git tag -d <tagname>. To also remove it from the remote, run git push origin --delete <tagname> (or the older git push origin :refs/tags/<tagname>). Local and remote tag deletions are separate steps.Can I practice this online?
Yes. Open the terminal playground to run
git tag in a real shell in your browser - nothing to install. Coddy's free interactive Git course also covers tagging and releases step by step.Related resources
More Git commands
