Commit-editmsg ✓

It populates it with a template or existing comments (lines starting with # ). It opens your configured core editor .

While .git/COMMIT_EDITMSG is a transient file that disappears or gets overwritten with every new commit, it is the canvas upon which project legacy is written. Mastering how to use it—and the editors that open it—is a rite of passage for every professional developer. COMMIT-EDITMSG

If you close the COMMIT_EDITMSG file without adding any text (or if you delete the existing text), Git will abort the commit, assuming you changed your mind [5.5]. It populates it with a template or existing

COMMIT_EDITMSG is a temporary file located in the .git directory of your repository. Its primary purpose is to hold the text of your commit message while you are drafting it in an external editor (like Vim, Nano, or VS Code). Mastering how to use it—and the editors that

By setting git config commit.template , you can pre-fill COMMIT_EDITMSG with a checklist or a specific format your team follows.

Using git commit -m "message" bypasses the creation of this file entirely, which is efficient for small fixes but discouraged for complex features that require detailed documentation [5.6]. Customizing the Experience

You can actually influence what appears in COMMIT_EDITMSG before you even start typing.