pre-commit hook in Git - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a pre-commit hook in Git?

A pre-commit hook is a script that runs automatically before a commit is saved. It helps check or change files to keep code quality before saving changes.

beginner

Where do you place a pre-commit hook script in a Git project?

You place the pre-commit hook script inside the .git/hooks/ folder of your project, naming it pre-commit and making it executable.

intermediate

What happens if a pre-commit hook script exits with a non-zero status?

Git stops the commit process and shows the error. This prevents bad or unwanted changes from being saved.

beginner

Give an example of a simple pre-commit hook use case.

A pre-commit hook can check if code files have no syntax errors or if commit messages follow a style guide before allowing the commit.

beginner

How can you make a pre-commit hook script executable on Unix systems?

Run the command chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit to give execute permission to the script.

What is the main purpose of a pre-commit hook in Git?

A To delete old commits

B To merge branches automatically

C To push changes to remote

D To run checks before saving a commit

A pre-commit hook runs scripts before a commit is saved to check or modify files.

Where is the pre-commit hook script located in a Git project?

A config/pre-commit

B root/pre-commit

C .git/hooks/pre-commit

D src/hooks/pre-commit

Git looks for hook scripts inside the .git/hooks directory.

What happens if a pre-commit hook script fails (exits with error)?

A Commit is stopped

B Commit proceeds anyway

C Git deletes the commit

D Git pushes the commit automatically

A failing pre-commit hook stops the commit to prevent bad changes.

Which command makes a pre-commit hook script executable on Unix?

A git enable pre-commit

B chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit

C chmod 777 pre-commit

D git hook activate pre-commit

chmod +x sets execute permission needed for the hook script to run.

Which of these is a common use for a pre-commit hook?

A Check code style before commit

B Automatically merge branches

C Create new branches

D Delete remote branches

Pre-commit hooks often check code style or run tests before committing.

Explain what a pre-commit hook is and why it is useful in Git.

Think about what happens before you save your work in Git.

Describe the steps to create and enable a simple pre-commit hook script in a Git project.

Focus on file location, permissions, and testing.