.MAILMAP File Extension
Git Mailmap File
| Developer | Git |
| Popularity |
2.0 | 1 Vote |
What is a MAILMAP file?
A MAILMAP file is a plain-text configuration file used in Git repositories to map multiple author names or email addresses to a single canonical identity, helping unify contributions from the same person who may have used different names or email addresses in commits. MAILMAP files are typically saved in the root directory of a Git repository and follow a simple format where each line specifies the canonical name and email, followed by the variant names or emails to be mapped.
More Information
Git uses MAILMAP files primarily when generating contributor statistics, logs, or reports. For example, when running commands like git shortlog or git log --format="%aN <%aE>", Git can apply the mappings in the MAILMAP file to display a unified author list.
This functionality makes it easier for project maintainers to recognize all contributions from a single individual, even if that person committed under multiple identities. Developers, open-source project maintainers, and teams managing collaborative repositories are the most common users of MAILMAP files.
How to open a MAILMAP file
You can open a MAILMAP file with any text editor, as it is stored in plain text. To use a MAILMAP file, place it in the root directory of a Git repository, and Git commands that support mailmap mapping will automatically read it. No specialized software is required beyond Git itself.