Do I need to commit .gitignore?

Yes — .gitignore should be committed to the repository so all collaborators benefit from the same ignore rules.

How do I add custom patterns?

Open your .gitignore file and add the pattern on a new line. Use # for comments, * for wildcards, / to match directories, and ! to un-ignore a previously ignored path.

How do I ignore a file that is already tracked?

Adding a file to .gitignore does not remove it from tracking if it was previously committed. Run: git rm --cached to stop tracking it without deleting the file locally.

Should I commit .jar files?

No for project build output — these are reproducible via Maven/Gradle. You may commit third-party .jar dependencies if not using a build tool.

.gitignore for Java

Java compiled classes, Maven/Gradle build output, and IDE project files.

Quick presets

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Java

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13 patterns · 237 B

# Generated by DevZone Tools — https://devzone.tools/tools/gitignore-generator
# Templates: Java
# 2026-04-20

# ---- Java ----
# Java
*.class
*.log
*.ctxt
.mtj.tmp/
*.jar
*.war
*.nar
*.ear
*.zip
*.tar.gz
*.rar
hs_err_pid*
replay_pid*

What this template ignores

Ignores compiled .class files, packaged .jar/.war/.ear archives, HotSpot crash logs, and temporary build artifacts.

Common additions

+target/ — Maven build output
+build/ — Gradle build output
+.gradle/ — Gradle cache

Commonly paired with

gradle maven spring kotlin eclipse jetbrains Combine →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to commit .gitignore?: Yes — .gitignore should be committed to the repository so all collaborators benefit from the same ignore rules.
How do I add custom patterns?: Open your .gitignore file and add the pattern on a new line. Use # for comments, * for wildcards, / to match directories, and ! to un-ignore a previously ignored path.
How do I ignore a file that is already tracked?: Adding a file to .gitignore does not remove it from tracking if it was previously committed. Run: git rm --cached <file> to stop tracking it without deleting the file locally.
Should I commit .jar files?: No for project build output — these are reproducible via Maven/Gradle. You may commit third-party .jar dependencies if not using a build tool.

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