GH-REPO-READ-FILE(1)           GitHub CLI manual          GH-REPO-READ-FILE(1)



NAME
       gh-repo-read-file - Read a file from a repository (preview)



SYNOPSIS
       gh repo read-file <path> [flags]



DESCRIPTION
       Read the contents of a file in a GitHub repository without cloning it.


       This command is in preview and subject to change without notice.


       By default, the file is read from the default branch. Use the --ref
       flag to read from a specific branch, tag, or commit.


       When run in TTY mode, the content is shown through your pager. When
       stdout is piped or redirected, the raw content is written directly. To
       save the file to disk instead, use the --output flag.


       By default, the command refuses to output a file that contains terminal
       escape sequences, since they could manipulate your terminal. Pass
       --allow-escape-sequences to read the file anyway.  This check applies
       only to terminal and piped output; writing to disk with --output always
       includes the raw bytes, as if --allow-escape-sequences were given.



OPTIONS
       --allow-escape-sequences
              Allow printing terminal escape sequences


       --clobber
              Overwrite the output path if it already exists


       -q, --jq <expression>
              Filter JSON output using a jq expression


       --json <fields>
              Output JSON with the specified fields


       -o, --output <path>
              Write the file to a path instead of stdout


       --ref <string>
              The branch, tag, or commit to read from


       -R, --repo <[HOST/]OWNER/REPO>
              Select another repository using the [HOST/]OWNER/REPO format


       -t, --template <string>
              Format JSON output using a Go template; see "gh help formatting"



JSON FIELDS
       content, downloadUrl, encoding, gitSHA, gitUrl, htmlUrl, name, path,
       size, type, url



EXIT CODES
       0: Successful execution


       1: Error


       2: Command canceled


       4: Authentication required


       NOTE: Specific commands may have additional exit codes. Refer to the
       command's help for more information.



EXAMPLE
       # Read a file from the default branch
       $ gh repo read-file README.md --repo cli/cli

       # Read a file at a specific ref
       $ gh repo read-file README.md --repo cli/cli --ref v2.50.0

       # Save a file to disk
       $ gh repo read-file README.md --repo cli/cli --output download/README.md

       # Print selected fields as JSON
       $ gh repo read-file README.md --repo cli/cli --json name,path,size,type

       # Read a file that contains terminal escape sequences
       $ gh repo read-file path/to/file --repo OWNER/REPO --allow-escape-sequences




SEE ALSO
       gh-repo(1)

                                   Sep 2026               GH-REPO-READ-FILE(1)