When using Git to explore your project’s history, the git log command is an invaluable tool. It shows a detailed list of commits, authors, dates, and messages. However, when you run git log, Git displays the log output inside a pager (usually less), which can confuse new users about how to exit and return to the terminal.
This guide will teach you the straightforward way to exit git log and get back to your regular command prompt quickly.
What Happens When You Run git log
When you type:
git log
Git opens the commit history in a scrollable view, allowing you to navigate through many commits. This is handled by a pager program that displays the content page by page instead of dumping everything at once.
How to Exit git log
- Simply press the
qkey on your keyboard.
This stands for “quit” and immediately closes the log view, returning you to the terminal prompt.
Additional Tips for Navigating git log
- Use the Up and Down arrow keys or Page Up / Page Down to scroll through commits.
- Press the Spacebar to jump one page down.
- To search for specific text inside the log, press
/followed by the search term, then press Enter. - Press
nto move to the next search match.
Why Knowing How to Exit Matters
Understanding how to exit the pager ensures you don’t get “stuck” in the log view and can efficiently browse commit history without frustration.
Summary
| Task | Command/Key |
|---|---|
Exit git log | Press q |
| Scroll up/down | Arrow keys/Page Up/Down |
| Search inside log | Press / + type term |
Conclusion
Exiting git log is quick and easy — just press q. With this knowledge, you can confidently explore your project’s history and move back to your workflow without interruption.
