_tils/2020-08-16-search-in-git.md


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---
title: Search in git
date: 2020-08-16
layout: til
lang: en
ref: search-in-git
---

Here's a useful trio to know about to help you search things in git:

1. `git show <commit>`
2. `git log --grep='<regexp>'`
3. `git grep '<regexp>' [commit]`

## 1. `git show <commit>`

Show a specific commit and it's diff:

```shell
git show
# shows the latest commit
git show <commit>
# shows an specific <commit>
git show v1.2
# shows commit tagged with v1.2
```

## 2. `git log --grep='<regexp>'`

Search through the commit messages:

```shell
git log --grep='refactor'
```

## 3. `git grep '<regexp>' [commit]`

Search content in git history:

```shell
git grep 'TODO'
# search the repository for the "TODO" string
git grep 'TODO' $(git rev-list --all)
# search the whole history for "TODO" string
```

And if you find an occurrence of the regexp in a specific commit and you want to
browse the repository in that point in time, you can
[use git checkout for that][0].

[0]: {% link _tils/2020-08-14-browse-a-git-repository-at-a-specific-commit.md %}