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The node_modules folder is a directory where npm (Node Package Manager) installs all the dependencies for a Node.js project. Including this folder in your Git repository is unnecessary and can significantly bloat your repository size. Instead, you should ignore it using Git’s .gitignore file. This article will guide you through the steps to properly ignore the node_modules folder in your Git repository.
Why Ignore node_modules?
- Size: The
node_modules folder can become very large, often containing thousands of files.
- Redundancy: Dependencies are defined in
package.json and can be installed using npm install, so they don’t need to be tracked in version control.
- Performance: Ignoring
node_modules reduces the size of your repository, making cloning and fetching faster.
Using a .gitignore File
The .gitignore file tells Git which files or directories to ignore. Adding node_modules to this file ensures that the folder is not tracked by Git.
Syntax
node_modules/
Example: We will create a .gitignore file in the root of our project and add the node_modules entry to it.
Step 1: Create a .gitignore File
In the root of your project directory, create a file named .gitignore.
Step 2: Add node_modules Entry
Open the .gitignore file in a text editor and add the following line:
node_modules/
Step 3: Save and Close the File
Save the .gitignore file and close the text editor.
Before Ignoring node_modules
Step 1: Initialize Git Repository
git init
Step 2: Install Dependencies
npm install
Step 3: Check Git Status
git status
 Before .gitignore file After Ignoring node_modules
Step 1: Add node_modules to .gitignore
node_modules/
Step 2: Check Git Status Again
git status
 How to Ignore ‘node_modules’ Folder in Git? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why should I ignore the node_modules folder?
Ignoring node_modules reduces repository size and ensures that only source code and essential files are tracked. Dependencies can be reinstalled using npm install.
Can I ignore other folders or files?
Yes, you can ignore any files or folders by adding their paths to the .gitignore file.
How do I update my .gitignore file?
Simply edit the .gitignore file and commit the changes to update it.
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