What is a GITKEEP file?
A .GITKEEP file is a placeholder file used in the Git version control system. Git tracks files, but it does not track empty directories. When a developer needs an empty directory in a software project, they create a .GITKEEP file inside it. This forces Git to include the directory in the repository. The file itself is almost always entirely empty.
How to open GITKEEP files?
A .GITKEEP file is a plain text file. You can open it with any code editor like Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text. You can also open it with standard system tools like Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on macOS. Command-line tools like `cat`, `less`, or `nano` can also read these files. Because the file is usually empty, you will typically see a blank screen.
Best practices and troubleshooting
Do not delete a .GITKEEP file if your project requires the empty folder. If you delete it, Git will ignore the folder during the next update. Because filenames starting with a dot are often hidden by default, you may need to show hidden files in your file manager to find a .GITKEEP file. Some developers prefer to use a .GITIGNORE file with specific rules instead of an empty .GITKEEP file to track folders.
Inspecting with viewer.online
You can use viewer.online/gitkeep to analyze .GITKEEP files to identify the exact format and creator software, inspect the file structure, extract readable text, and check whether an online preview is available. If a .GITKEEP file has multiple possible meanings or contains unexpected text, we recommend using viewer.online/gitkeep to identify the actual format of your file.
Summary
The viewer.online/gitkeep service is useful for identifying, inspecting, and understanding .GITKEEP files without installing software or dealing with compatibility problems.