GIT-DESCRIBE(1) (NAME) git-describe - (SYNOPSIS) git describe [--all] [--tags] [--contains] [--abbrev=] [...] git describe [--all] [--tags] [--contains] [--abbrev=] --dirty[=] git describe (DESCRIPTION) . . () . << >> . ( --all --tags) git describe (annotated tags) . -a -s git-tag(1) . blob : blob blob HEAD . (OPTIONS) ... (commit-ish) . HEAD . --dirty[=], --broken[=] . HEAD git describe HEAD . -dirty . () --broken -broken . --all (ref) refs/ . (lightweight) . --tags refs/tags . ( ) . --contains . --tags . --abbrev= ( ) . . --candidates= . . . --exact-match ( ). --candidates=0 . --debug . . --long ( ) . <> . v1.2-0-gdeadbee ( v1.2 deadbee.... ) . --match glob(7) <>. --all <> <> . . --no-match . --exclude glob(7) <>. --all <> <> . . --match --match --exclude . --no-exclude . --always (fallback). --first-parent (merge commit) . . (EXAMPLES) git.git : [torvalds@g5 git]$ git describe parent v1.0.4-14-g2414721 (head) <> v1.0.4 describe (<<14>>) (<<2414721>>) . git log v1.0.4..parent . <<-g>> (tip) parent ( 2414721b194453f058079d897d13c4e377f92dc6 ). (birthday paradox) . <> <> (SCM) . SCM . git describe : [torvalds@g5 git]$ git describe v1.0.4 v1.0.4 --all : [torvalds@g5 git]$ git describe --all --abbrev=4 v1.0.5^2 tags/v1.0.0-21-g975b [torvalds@g5 git]$ git describe --all --abbrev=4 HEAD^ heads/lt/describe-7-g975b --abbrev : [torvalds@g5 git]$ git describe --abbrev=0 v1.0.5^2 tags/v1.0.0 975b <<-g975b>> . (SEARCH STRATEGY) commit-ish git describe . . . git describe () . SHA-1 . --first-parent . commit-ish . git log tag..input . (BUGS) (Tree objects) . blob blob blob : . (SEE ALSO) git-tag(1) (GIT) git(1) Git 2.55.0 2026-06-29 GIT-DESCRIBE(1)