--all::
Instead of using only the annotated tags, use any ref
- found in `.git/refs/`. This option enables matching
+ found in `refs/` namespace. This option enables matching
any known branch, remote-tracking branch, or lightweight tag.
--tags::
Instead of using only the annotated tags, use any tag
- found in `.git/refs/tags`. This option enables matching
+ found in `refs/tags` namespace. This option enables matching
a lightweight (non-annotated) tag.
--contains::
useful in the future for compensating for some git bugs or such,
therefore such a usage is permitted.
-*NOTE*: This command honors `.git/info/grafts` and `.git/refs/replace/`.
+*NOTE*: This command honors `.git/info/grafts` file and refs in
+the `refs/replace/` namespace.
If you have any grafts or replacement refs defined, running this command
will make them permanent.
An object to treat as the head of an unreachability trace.
+
If no objects are given, 'git fsck' defaults to using the
-index file, all SHA1 references in .git/refs/*, and all reflogs (unless
---no-reflogs is given) as heads.
+index file, all SHA1 references in `refs` namespace, and all reflogs
+(unless --no-reflogs is given) as heads.
--unreachable::
Print out objects that exist but that aren't reachable from any
------------
After making sure you know which the object is the tag you are looking
-for, you can reconnect it to your regular .git/refs hierarchy.
+for, you can reconnect it to your regular `refs` hierarchy by using
+the `update-ref` command.
------------
$ git cat-file -t 1ef2b196
-----------
Traditionally, tips of branches and tags (collectively known as
-'refs') were stored one file per ref under `$GIT_DIR/refs`
+'refs') were stored one file per ref in a (sub)directory
+under `$GIT_DIR/refs`
directory. While many branch tips tend to be updated often,
most tags and some branch tips are never updated. When a
repository has hundreds or thousands of tags, this
performance.
This command is used to solve the storage and performance
-problem by stashing the refs in a single file,
+problem by storing the refs in a single file,
`$GIT_DIR/packed-refs`. When a ref is missing from the
-traditional `$GIT_DIR/refs` hierarchy, it is looked up in this
+traditional `$GIT_DIR/refs` directory hierarchy, it is looked
+up in this
file and used if found.
Subsequent updates to branches always create new files under
-`$GIT_DIR/refs` hierarchy.
+`$GIT_DIR/refs` directory hierarchy.
A recommended practice to deal with a repository with too many
refs is to pack its refs with `--all --prune` once, and
The command usually removes loose refs under `$GIT_DIR/refs`
hierarchy after packing them. This option tells it not to.
+
+BUGS
+----
+
+Older documentation written before the packed-refs mechanism was
+introduced may still say things like ".git/refs/heads/<branch> file
+exists" when it means "branch <branch> exists".
+
+
GIT
---
Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite
DESCRIPTION
-----------
-Adds a 'replace' reference in `.git/refs/replace/`
+Adds a 'replace' reference in `refs/replace/` namespace.
The name of the 'replace' reference is the SHA1 of the object that is
replaced. The content of the 'replace' reference is the SHA1 of the
replacement object.
-Unless `-f` is given, the 'replace' reference must not yet exist in
-`.git/refs/replace/` directory.
+Unless `-f` is given, the 'replace' reference must not yet exist.
Replacement references will be used by default by all git commands
except those doing reachability traversal (prune, pack transfer and
DESCRIPTION
-----------
-Add a tag reference in `.git/refs/tags/`, unless `-d/-l/-v` is given
+Add a tag reference in `refs/tags/`, unless `-d/-l/-v` is given
to delete, list or verify tags.
-Unless `-f` is given, the tag to be created must not yet exist in the
-`.git/refs/tags/` directory.
+Unless `-f` is given, the named tag must not yet exist.
If one of `-a`, `-s`, or `-u <key-id>` is passed, the command
creates a 'tag' object, and requires a tag message. Unless