Use gofmt when you only need to format Go code. Choose goimports when you also want missing imports added and unused imports removed. Both format code in the gofmt style; the practical difference is whether import maintenance is part of the job.
What is the difference between goimports and gofmt?
gofmt formats Go source code. Its documented style uses tabs for indentation and blanks for alignment. It does not manage imports.
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goimports formats code in the same style and also updates import lines: it adds imports needed by the file and removes imports that are no longer referenced. The Go tools overview describes it as formatting like go fmt while inserting import statements for packages required after editing.
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Which tool should you use?
| What you need | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard formatting, with imports managed separately | gofmt |
Its documented job is formatting Go programs. |
| Formatting plus adding missing and removing unused imports | goimports |
Import maintenance is its added behavior, alongside gofmt-style formatting. |
| A save hook that handles formatting and imports together | goimports |
Its documentation says it can replace a gofmt-on-save editor hook. |
This is a difference in scope, not an established difference in speed, correctness, or output quality. The documentation cited here does not establish an advantage on those measures.
How gofmt handles files and directories
The gofmt command reads standard input when no path is supplied, operates on a specified file, or processes .go files recursively when given a directory. Its options include printing differences and listing files whose formatting differs. Consult the command documentation for the available flags and their exact behavior.
Install goimports
The goimports documentation gives this installation command:
go install golang.org/x/tools/cmd/goimports@latestBecause the command uses @latest, the installed version can change over time. When pinning a toolchain, check the package page or the version installed in your environment. On October 4, 2026, that page displayed v0.51.0, published October 2, 2026. gofmt is documented as a Go command; see its package page for details.
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