Git & GitHub Interview Question #126

What is a Git hook?

Security, Team Workflows, Troubleshooting & Senior Git/GitHub Scenarios Senior Advanced

Quick Interview Answer

A Git hook is a script that Git can execute automatically at specific points in a repository workflow, such as before a commit, after a commit, before a push, or during server-side receive operations.

Detailed Explanation

A Git hook is a script that Git can execute automatically at specific points in a repository workflow, such as before a commit, after a commit, before a push, or during server-side receive operations.

Hooks can enforce local checks, format code, validate commit messages, or trigger automation. Client-side hooks are normally stored locally and are not automatically transferred when a repository is cloned, so important organizational rules should also be enforced in shared CI or server-side controls.

Code Example

# Common local hooks live under:
.git/hooks/

# Example hook names:
pre-commit
commit-msg
pre-push

# Git can also use a configured hooks path:
git config core.hooksPath .githooks