When working with Git, the git log and git diff commands are important for viewing commit history and changes between commits, respectively. However, if you’re new to Git, you might find yourself stuck in these views, unsure how to exit. This article will guide you through the steps to exit git log or git diff, ensuring a smooth experience while navigating your Git repository.

Understanding git log and git diff

• git log: This command displays the commit history of your repository. It shows a list of commits, including the commit hash, author, date, and commit message.
• git diff: This command shows the differences between commits, branches, or your working directory and the staging area. It provides a detailed view of what has changed in your files.

Both commands typically open the output in a pager (such as less) if the content exceeds the terminal window’s height, allowing you to scroll through the information.

Methods to Exit the Pager:

1. Exiting with q
2. Exiting with CTRL + C
3. Disabling the Pager

1. Exiting with ‘q’:

The simplest and most common way to exit the pager used by git log and git diff is by pressing the q key.

Steps:

1. Run the git log or git diff command:

git log

or

git diff

2. Press q to exit:

When the output is displayed in the pager, press the ‘q’ key. This will close the pager and return you to the command prompt.

Example Output:

Example output of Press q to exit

2. Exiting with CTRL + C:

In some cases, pressing CTRL + C can be used to forcefully exit the pager.

Steps:

1. Run the git log or git diff command:

git log

or

git diff

2. Press CTRL + C to exit:

This method should be used as a last resort if pressing q does not work.

Example Output:

$ git diff

diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt
index e69de29..d95f3ad 100644
--- a/file.txt
+++ b/file.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Hello World
+Hello Git

Press CTRL + C to exit

3. Disabling the Pager:

You can disable the pager entirely for specific commands. In short below command is print whole log at a time.

Run the command with the –no-pager option:

git --no-pager log

or

git --no-pager diff

Example Output:

Example output of git –no-pager log

Conclusion:

Understanding how to exit the pager when using git log or git diff is essential for an efficient Git workflow. By pressing q, customizing the pager, or disabling it entirely, you can navigate your Git outputs without frustration.