How to list only the names of files that changed between two commits in Git ?

To list only the names of files changed between two commits in Git, use the git diff command with the --name-only flag. This provides a concise list of modified, added, deleted, or renamed files. Here’s how to do it:

Basic Syntax

git diff --name-only <commit1> <commit2>

Example:

git diff --name-only abc123 def456
# Outputs filenames changed between commits abc123 and def456

Key Variations

1. Compare Branches or Tags

git diff --name-only main..feature  # Compare tips of two branches
git diff --name-only v1.0 v2.0     # Compare tags

2. Compare HEAD with a Previous Commit

git diff --name-only HEAD~3 HEAD   # Changes in the last 3 commits

3. Compare Against a Specific Branch

git diff --name-only origin/main   # Compare current branch to remote main

4. Include Merge Base (For Branches)

git diff --name-only main...feature  # Compare feature against merge base of main

Options

--diff-filter=<filter>: Filter by type of change (e.g., A for added, D for deleted, R for renamed).
Example:

  git diff --name-only --diff-filter=AMR <commit1> <commit2>

Examples

1. Files Changed in the Last Commit

git diff --name-only HEAD~1 HEAD

2. Files Changed Between Two Branches

git diff --name-only develop main

3. Files Added Between Tags

git diff --name-only --diff-filter=A v1.0 v2.0

How to Find Commit Hashes

Use git log to identify commits:

git log --oneline  # Shows abbreviated commit hashes and messages

Notes

Order of Commits: Swapping <commit1> and <commit2> reverses the diff direction but lists the same filenames.
Renamed Files: Shows the new filename (use --name-status for rename details).
Untracked Files: Not included—this command only compares committed changes.

Summary

Use git diff --name-only <commit1> <commit2> for a clean list of changed files.
Add --diff-filter to focus on specific types of changes (e.g., additions, deletions).
Combine with branch/tag names or relative references like HEAD~ for flexibility.