What if I already committed files I want to ignore?

Add the patterns to .gitignore, then run git rm --cached to untrack them. The files stay on disk but Git stops tracking them.

Should I commit .gitignore?

Yes. .gitignore should be committed so all team members share the same ignore rules. It is one of the first files in any repository.

Does .gitignore affect already-committed files?

No. .gitignore only prevents untracked files from being added. Files already in Git history remain tracked until explicitly removed with git rm --cached.

Can I have multiple .gitignore files?

Yes. Each directory can have its own .gitignore with rules scoped to that directory and its subdirectories. Rules are cumulative.

How to Create a .gitignore File (2026)

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