Git hooks are small executable programs that run at specific points in Git’s workflow. They are worth using to catch routine issues close to the work—such as formatting errors before a commit—but they are not dependable enforcement on their own: local hooks may be missing after a clone, and some can be bypassed. Use hooks for convenient early feedback, then put mandatory rules in CI or trusted server-side checks.
What Git hooks do
A Git hook is an executable script associated with an event such as creating a commit or pushing changes. Git normally looks for hook files in $GIT_DIR/hooks; the core.hooksPath setting can point Git to a different directory. A file that is not executable is ignored as a hook. See the Git hooks manual and Git configuration documentation for core.hooksPath.
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Hooks can run checks, modify a proposed commit message, or perform follow-up tasks. Their usefulness depends on choosing the right event: a check that must stop an action belongs before that action, not in a hook that runs afterward.
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| Hook | When it runs | What it can do | Can --no-verify bypass it? |
|---|---|---|---|
pre-commit |
Before Git obtains the proposed commit message and creates the commit | Run quick checks; a nonzero exit rejects the commit | Yes |
prepare-commit-msg |
After Git prepares the default message, before the editor opens | Inspect or edit the message file | No |
commit-msg |
After the message is prepared | Inspect or edit the message file; a nonzero exit rejects the commit | Yes |
post-commit |
After the commit has succeeded | Send a notification or perform follow-up work; it cannot undo or reject the commit | Not an enforcement point |
pre-push |
Before Git sends proposed refs to a remote | Run checks or stop the push | Not covered by the commit-hook bypass described above |
pre-receive and update |
On the receiving repository during an update | Reject updates on the server | Not a local client hook |
Event timing, arguments, input, and working-directory behavior vary. Read the Git manual for the specific hook before writing a script that depends on arguments or repository state.
Use commit-time hooks for quick, focused checks
A pre-commit hook can format or lint changed files, or run a small relevant test. Keep its work narrow enough to provide useful feedback at commit time. This is a practical design recommendation, not a claim that a particular check has a guaranteed runtime.
Use message hooks for message rules
Use commit-msg to validate a proposed message, such as checking that it follows a team convention. Use prepare-commit-msg when the goal is to populate or edit the message before the editor opens. They are different events, and only the former is bypassed by --no-verify.
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Use post-event hooks for follow-up, not rejection
A post-commit hook runs only after Git has made the commit. It is suitable for notification or other follow-up, not a rule intended to prevent a commit. A pre-push hook is an option for checks that do not belong on every commit, but the sources establish no universal runtime target for deciding what is “too long.”
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Git’s local commit hooks can be skipped with --no-verify for applicable hooks, and contributors can lack local hooks entirely. If a rule must apply to every contribution, run it in CI or enforce it with server-side hooks such as pre-receive or update. Pro Git’s Git Hooks chapter discusses client and server hooks and advises server-side enforcement for policy.
How to install a basic hook
For a personal check or a quick trial, create a file named for the event in the repository’s hooks directory and make it executable. On a typical Unix-like shell, for example:
- Find the Git directory with
git rev-parse --git-dir. The usual hooks directory is that directory’shookssubdirectory. - Create a file named after the event, such as
pre-commit, in the active hooks directory. Checkgit config --get core.hooksPath; if it returns a path, Git uses that configured location instead of the default. - Put the desired command in the script and make sure it returns a nonzero exit status when it detects a problem.
- Set the executable bit, for example with
chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commitwhen the default path is in use. If Git ignores the file, confirm both the active hook path and executable permission. - Try a commit that should pass and one that should fail. Confirm that the failing command prevents the commit and gives a clear fix.
The example path assumes the repository uses .git/hooks; Git worktrees, custom Git directories, or a configured core.hooksPath can change the correct location. Git also documents the ability to configure named hook commands and run or list hooks with the git hook command; consult the git hook manual for the supported commands and configuration.
How to share hooks with a team
A normal clone does not copy a developer’s client-side hook files. A hook that exists only in one person’s .git/hooks directory is therefore not a team-wide setup. Provide an installation step, check in a hook manager’s configuration, or use another documented team setup mechanism. Verify the setup on a fresh clone rather than assuming that a committed script is automatically active.
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Raw scripts, Git configuration, or a hook manager?
There is no universally best approach. Choose based on how the team works, what languages its checks require, how contributors get set up, and whether required checks also run elsewhere.
| Approach | Good fit | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
Raw scripts in .git/hooks |
One developer or a simple personal check | Minimal setup, but local installation and team distribution need attention; executable permissions matter. Git hooks manual |
core.hooksPath or Git named-hook configuration |
A team that wants to use Git’s own configuration or centralize scripts | Native Git configuration, but contributors need the right config scope and setup. core.hooksPath; git hook |
pre-commit |
A team seeking declarative hooks across multiple hook languages | Supports file and type selection and options such as fail-fast and serial execution; setup and runtime environments depend on the selected hook language. Official documentation |
| Husky | A JavaScript or Node.js project integrating checks with project setup | Its documentation covers core.hooksPath, cross-platform support, and commit-message or code checks. Follow the install instructions for the project rather than assuming a universal setup. Official documentation |
| Lefthook | A team that wants configured jobs and file-matched commands | Official examples cover parallel jobs and staged-file targeting; installation can use a project or system package manager. Official documentation |
When comparing managers, check language and runtime fit, fresh-clone onboarding, changed-file targeting, platform support, maintainability, and duplication with CI. Configuration features do not establish that one manager is faster in your project.
Make hooks helpful instead of frustrating
- Limit commit-time work to checks that give timely, relevant feedback; move broader checks to a later stage when appropriate.
- Make failures actionable: show which command failed and how to fix the issue.
- Test the setup on a fresh clone and on the platforms your contributors use.
- Review scripts and installers before enabling them, since hooks execute code on a contributor’s machine.
- Do not assume every hook receives the same arguments, input, or working directory; check the documentation for its event.
- Repeat mandatory checks in CI or enforce them on a trusted server, rather than relying on every developer’s local setup.
Further reading
For a book-length treatment, Pro Git, 2nd Edition: Customizing Git—Git Hooks explains client-side and server-side hooks.
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