Should I commit node_modules to git?

No. node_modules can contain thousands of files and hundreds of megabytes. Always add it to .gitignore and rely on package.json and the lock file to restore dependencies with npm ci.

How do I ignore already-committed files?

Adding a file to .gitignore only prevents future tracking. To stop tracking a file already in git, run git rm --cached filename and then commit the removal.

Can I use a global gitignore for OS files?

Yes. Configure a global ignore file with git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global and add .DS_Store, Thumbs.db, and editor directories there so they apply to every repository.

.gitignore for a Node.js Project

A good .gitignore prevents accidental commits of node_modules, build artifacts, environment files containing secrets, and OS-generated junk files. This example covers the full Node.js ecosystem including npm, yarn, pnpm, Next.js, Vite, and TypeScript build outputs. The gitignore generator lets you combine multiple templates (Node, macOS, Windows, JetBrains) into a single merged file. Always verify your .gitignore covers .env files before your first commit.

Example

# Dependencies
node_modules/
.pnp
.pnp.js

# Build outputs
dist/
build/
.next/
.nuxt/
out/

# Environment files
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local

# Logs
*.log
npm-debug.log*
yarn-debug.log*

# TypeScript
*.tsbuildinfo

# OS
.DS_Store
Thumbs.db

# Editor
.vscode/
.idea/

[ open in .gitignore Generator → ]

FAQ

Should I commit node_modules to git?: No. node_modules can contain thousands of files and hundreds of megabytes. Always add it to .gitignore and rely on package.json and the lock file to restore dependencies with npm ci.
How do I ignore already-committed files?: Adding a file to .gitignore only prevents future tracking. To stop tracking a file already in git, run git rm --cached filename and then commit the removal.
Can I use a global gitignore for OS files?: Yes. Configure a global ignore file with git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global and add .DS_Store, Thumbs.db, and editor directories there so they apply to every repository.

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