How to Create an Empty Commit in Git

Creating an empty commit in Git make sense if you’re doing things like triggering a CI/CD pipeline without changing the code or marking a milestone in your project's history. This guide shows you how to make an empty commit in Git so you can apply it in your own workflows.

Why you should create an empty commit in Git?

In Git, an empty commit is basically a commit that carries no changes from the previous commit. It can be super useful. It lets you to trigger automated workflows, denote significant milestones, or record decisions without needing to alter your codebase. It streamlines the development process in complex projects.

How to create an empty commit in Git?

To create an empty commit, you'll need to use the git commit command with the --allow-empty flag. This combination signals to Git that you intentionally want to commit without any changes, overriding the default behavior that prevents such actions.

git commit --allow-empty -m "Enter your commit message"

Always replace "Enter your commit message" with a descriptive note explaining why you're making the empty commit. This practice ensures that your team understands the purpose behind the commit when they review the project's history.

Example

Let's say you need to kick off a new build in your CI system but don't have any code changes to commit. You can create an empty commit with a message that clearly states its purpose, such as initiating a CI build, to achieve this goal.

git commit --allow-empty -m "Kick off CI build"

After crafting your empty commit, you can push it to your remote repository just like any other commit.

git push origin main

Remember to replace main with your branch's name if you are not working on the main branch.

Next steps

While creating empty commits in Git is straightforward, it's best to use them sparingly to avoid cluttering your project's commit history. However, they become invaluable tools for specific needs or strategic purposes within your development cycle.

Knowing when and how to create an empty commit in Git adds a layer of sophistication to your version control practices. It provides a means to navigate around certain project management challenges without compromising your codebase.