Git Ignore node_modules

When working on a Node.js project, it is very common to install external packages using a package manager such as npm or yarn. These packages are usually stored in a directory named node_modules. However, this directory can become very large and can slow down the process of committing changes to your git repository.

To prevent these large files from being tracked by git, it's recommended to add node_modules to your .gitignore file.

How to add node_modules to .gitignore

1. Open your .gitignore file in your editor of choice.
2. Add the following line to the file:

node_modules/

3. Save the file and commit the changes.

This will prevent any files or directories within the node_modules directory from being committed to git.

It is important to note that if you add a new package to your project, you should run npm i (or the equivalent for your package manager) to download the new package and ensure it is installed in your node_modules directory.

Benefits of ignoring node_modules

Ignoring node_modules has several benefits, including:

• Faster Git operations: As mentioned earlier, tracking large files in your repository can slow down Git operations such as committing and pushing changes.
• Smaller repository: By ignoring node_modules, you can significantly reduce the size of your repository and save space on your machine.
• Prevent unintended commits: If you forget to ignore node_modules, you might accidentally commit the entire directory to Git. This can make it difficult to revert changes or to share your code with others.

In conclusion, ignoring node_modules is a best practice when working on Node.js projects and can help ensure your Git operations run smoothly.