Skip to content

Compare two commits

GET
/repos/{owner}/{repo}/compare/{basehead}

Compares two commits against one another. You can compare refs (branches or tags) and commit SHAs in the same repository, or you can compare refs and commit SHAs that exist in different repositories within the same repository network, including fork branches. For more information about how to view a repository’s network, see “Understanding connections between repositories.”

This endpoint is equivalent to running the git log BASE..HEAD command, but it returns commits in a different order. The git log BASE..HEAD command returns commits in reverse chronological order, whereas the API returns commits in chronological order.

This endpoint supports the following custom media types. For more information, see “Media types.”

  • application/vnd.github.diff: Returns the diff of the commit.
  • application/vnd.github.patch: Returns the patch of the commit. Diffs with binary data will have no patch property.

The API response includes details about the files that were changed between the two commits. This includes the status of the change (if a file was added, removed, modified, or renamed), and details of the change itself. For example, files with a renamed status have a previous_filename field showing the previous filename of the file, and files with a modified status have a patch field showing the changes made to the file.

When calling this endpoint without any paging parameter (per_page or page), the returned list is limited to 250 commits, and the last commit in the list is the most recent of the entire comparison.

Working with large comparisons

To process a response with a large number of commits, use a query parameter (per_page or page) to paginate the results. When using pagination:

  • The list of changed files is only shown on the first page of results, and it includes up to 300 changed files for the entire comparison.
  • The results are returned in chronological order, but the last commit in the returned list may not be the most recent one in the entire set if there are more pages of results.

For more information on working with pagination, see “Using pagination in the REST API.”

Signature verification object

The response will include a verification object that describes the result of verifying the commit’s signature. The verification object includes the following fields:

Name Type Description
verified boolean Indicates whether GitHub considers the signature in this commit to be verified.
reason string The reason for verified value. Possible values and their meanings are enumerated in table below.
signature string The signature that was extracted from the commit.
payload string The value that was signed.
verified_at string The date the signature was verified by GitHub.

These are the possible values for reason in the verification object:

Value Description
expired_key The key that made the signature is expired.
not_signing_key The “signing” flag is not among the usage flags in the GPG key that made the signature.
gpgverify_error There was an error communicating with the signature verification service.
gpgverify_unavailable The signature verification service is currently unavailable.
unsigned The object does not include a signature.
unknown_signature_type A non-PGP signature was found in the commit.
no_user No user was associated with the committer email address in the commit.
unverified_email The committer email address in the commit was associated with a user, but the email address is not verified on their account.
bad_email The committer email address in the commit is not included in the identities of the PGP key that made the signature.
unknown_key The key that made the signature has not been registered with any user’s account.
malformed_signature There was an error parsing the signature.
invalid The signature could not be cryptographically verified using the key whose key-id was found in the signature.
valid None of the above errors applied, so the signature is considered to be verified.

API method documentation

owner
required
string

The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.

repo
required
string

The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.

basehead
required
string

The base branch and head branch to compare. This parameter expects the format BASE...HEAD. Both must be branch names in repo. To compare with a branch that exists in a different repository in the same network as repo, the basehead parameter expects the format USERNAME:BASE...USERNAME:HEAD.

page
integer
default: 1

The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see “Using pagination in the REST API.”

per_page
integer
default: 30

The number of results per page (max 100). For more information, see “Using pagination in the REST API.”

Response

Commit Comparison

Commit Comparison

object
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
required
string format: uri
permalink_url
required
string format: uri
diff_url
required
string format: uri
patch_url
required
string format: uri
base_commit
required
Commit

Commit

object
url
required
string format: uri
sha
required
string
node_id
required
string
html_url
required
string format: uri
comments_url
required
string format: uri
commit
required
object
url
required
string format: uri
author
required
Git User

Metaproperties for Git author/committer information.

object
name
string
email
string
date
string format: date-time
committer
required
Git User

Metaproperties for Git author/committer information.

object
name
string
email
string
date
string format: date-time
message
required
string
comment_count
required
integer
tree
required
object
sha
required
string
url
required
string format: uri
verification
Verification
object
verified
required
boolean
reason
required
string
payload
required
string
nullable
signature
required
string
nullable
verified_at
required
string
nullable
author
required
One of:
Simple User

A GitHub user.

object
name
string
nullable
email
string
nullable
login
required
string
id
required
integer format: int64
node_id
required
string
avatar_url
required
string format: uri
gravatar_id
required
string
nullable
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
required
string format: uri
followers_url
required
string format: uri
following_url
required
string
gists_url
required
string
starred_url
required
string
subscriptions_url
required
string format: uri
organizations_url
required
string format: uri
repos_url
required
string format: uri
events_url
required
string
received_events_url
required
string format: uri
type
required
string
site_admin
required
boolean
starred_at
string
user_view_type
string
committer
required
One of:
Simple User

A GitHub user.

object
name
string
nullable
email
string
nullable
login
required
string
id
required
integer format: int64
node_id
required
string
avatar_url
required
string format: uri
gravatar_id
required
string
nullable
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
required
string format: uri
followers_url
required
string format: uri
following_url
required
string
gists_url
required
string
starred_url
required
string
subscriptions_url
required
string format: uri
organizations_url
required
string format: uri
repos_url
required
string format: uri
events_url
required
string
received_events_url
required
string format: uri
type
required
string
site_admin
required
boolean
starred_at
string
user_view_type
string
parents
required
Array<object>
object
sha
required
string
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
string format: uri
stats
object
additions
integer
deletions
integer
total
integer
files
Array<object>
Diff Entry

Diff Entry

object
sha
required
string
nullable
filename
required
string
status
required
string
Allowed values: added removed modified renamed copied changed unchanged
additions
required
integer
deletions
required
integer
changes
required
integer
blob_url
required
string format: uri
raw_url
required
string format: uri
contents_url
required
string format: uri
patch
string
previous_filename
string
merge_base_commit
required
Commit

Commit

object
url
required
string format: uri
sha
required
string
node_id
required
string
html_url
required
string format: uri
comments_url
required
string format: uri
commit
required
object
url
required
string format: uri
author
required
Git User

Metaproperties for Git author/committer information.

object
name
string
email
string
date
string format: date-time
committer
required
Git User

Metaproperties for Git author/committer information.

object
name
string
email
string
date
string format: date-time
message
required
string
comment_count
required
integer
tree
required
object
sha
required
string
url
required
string format: uri
verification
Verification
object
verified
required
boolean
reason
required
string
payload
required
string
nullable
signature
required
string
nullable
verified_at
required
string
nullable
author
required
One of:
Simple User

A GitHub user.

object
name
string
nullable
email
string
nullable
login
required
string
id
required
integer format: int64
node_id
required
string
avatar_url
required
string format: uri
gravatar_id
required
string
nullable
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
required
string format: uri
followers_url
required
string format: uri
following_url
required
string
gists_url
required
string
starred_url
required
string
subscriptions_url
required
string format: uri
organizations_url
required
string format: uri
repos_url
required
string format: uri
events_url
required
string
received_events_url
required
string format: uri
type
required
string
site_admin
required
boolean
starred_at
string
user_view_type
string
committer
required
One of:
Simple User

A GitHub user.

object
name
string
nullable
email
string
nullable
login
required
string
id
required
integer format: int64
node_id
required
string
avatar_url
required
string format: uri
gravatar_id
required
string
nullable
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
required
string format: uri
followers_url
required
string format: uri
following_url
required
string
gists_url
required
string
starred_url
required
string
subscriptions_url
required
string format: uri
organizations_url
required
string format: uri
repos_url
required
string format: uri
events_url
required
string
received_events_url
required
string format: uri
type
required
string
site_admin
required
boolean
starred_at
string
user_view_type
string
parents
required
Array<object>
object
sha
required
string
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
string format: uri
stats
object
additions
integer
deletions
integer
total
integer
files
Array<object>
Diff Entry

Diff Entry

object
sha
required
string
nullable
filename
required
string
status
required
string
Allowed values: added removed modified renamed copied changed unchanged
additions
required
integer
deletions
required
integer
changes
required
integer
blob_url
required
string format: uri
raw_url
required
string format: uri
contents_url
required
string format: uri
patch
string
previous_filename
string
status
required
string
Allowed values: diverged ahead behind identical
ahead_by
required
integer
behind_by
required
integer
total_commits
required
integer
commits
required
Array<object>
Commit

Commit

object
url
required
string format: uri
sha
required
string
node_id
required
string
html_url
required
string format: uri
comments_url
required
string format: uri
commit
required
object
url
required
string format: uri
author
required
Git User

Metaproperties for Git author/committer information.

object
name
string
email
string
date
string format: date-time
committer
required
Git User

Metaproperties for Git author/committer information.

object
name
string
email
string
date
string format: date-time
message
required
string
comment_count
required
integer
tree
required
object
sha
required
string
url
required
string format: uri
verification
Verification
object
verified
required
boolean
reason
required
string
payload
required
string
nullable
signature
required
string
nullable
verified_at
required
string
nullable
author
required
One of:
Simple User

A GitHub user.

object
name
string
nullable
email
string
nullable
login
required
string
id
required
integer format: int64
node_id
required
string
avatar_url
required
string format: uri
gravatar_id
required
string
nullable
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
required
string format: uri
followers_url
required
string format: uri
following_url
required
string
gists_url
required
string
starred_url
required
string
subscriptions_url
required
string format: uri
organizations_url
required
string format: uri
repos_url
required
string format: uri
events_url
required
string
received_events_url
required
string format: uri
type
required
string
site_admin
required
boolean
starred_at
string
user_view_type
string
committer
required
One of:
Simple User

A GitHub user.

object
name
string
nullable
email
string
nullable
login
required
string
id
required
integer format: int64
node_id
required
string
avatar_url
required
string format: uri
gravatar_id
required
string
nullable
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
required
string format: uri
followers_url
required
string format: uri
following_url
required
string
gists_url
required
string
starred_url
required
string
subscriptions_url
required
string format: uri
organizations_url
required
string format: uri
repos_url
required
string format: uri
events_url
required
string
received_events_url
required
string format: uri
type
required
string
site_admin
required
boolean
starred_at
string
user_view_type
string
parents
required
Array<object>
object
sha
required
string
url
required
string format: uri
html_url
string format: uri
stats
object
additions
integer
deletions
integer
total
integer
files
Array<object>
Diff Entry

Diff Entry

object
sha
required
string
nullable
filename
required
string
status
required
string
Allowed values: added removed modified renamed copied changed unchanged
additions
required
integer
deletions
required
integer
changes
required
integer
blob_url
required
string format: uri
raw_url
required
string format: uri
contents_url
required
string format: uri
patch
string
previous_filename
string
files
Array<object>
Diff Entry

Diff Entry

object
sha
required
string
nullable
filename
required
string
status
required
string
Allowed values: added removed modified renamed copied changed unchanged
additions
required
integer
deletions
required
integer
changes
required
integer
blob_url
required
string format: uri
raw_url
required
string format: uri
contents_url
required
string format: uri
patch
string
previous_filename
string
Examples
Example default
{
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/compare/master...topic",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/compare/master...topic",
"permalink_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/compare/octocat:bbcd538c8e72b8c175046e27cc8f907076331401...octocat:0328041d1152db8ae77652d1618a02e57f745f17",
"diff_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/compare/master...topic.diff",
"patch_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/compare/master...topic.patch",
"base_commit": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0NmRjYjA5YjViNTc4NzVmMzM0ZjYxYWViZWQ2OTVlMmU0MTkzZGI1ZQ==",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments",
"commit": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"author": {
"name": "Monalisa Octocat",
"email": "mona@github.com",
"date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
},
"committer": {
"name": "Monalisa Octocat",
"email": "mona@github.com",
"date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
},
"message": "Fix all the bugs",
"tree": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/tree/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
},
"comment_count": 0,
"verification": {
"verified": false,
"reason": "unsigned",
"signature": null,
"payload": null,
"verified_at": null
}
},
"author": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"site_admin": false
},
"committer": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"site_admin": false
},
"parents": [
{
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
}
]
},
"merge_base_commit": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0NmRjYjA5YjViNTc4NzVmMzM0ZjYxYWViZWQ2OTVlMmU0MTkzZGI1ZQ==",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments",
"commit": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"author": {
"name": "Monalisa Octocat",
"email": "mona@github.com",
"date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
},
"committer": {
"name": "Monalisa Octocat",
"email": "mona@github.com",
"date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
},
"message": "Fix all the bugs",
"tree": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/tree/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
},
"comment_count": 0,
"verification": {
"verified": false,
"reason": "unsigned",
"signature": null,
"payload": null,
"verified_at": null
}
},
"author": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"site_admin": false
},
"committer": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"site_admin": false
},
"parents": [
{
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
}
]
},
"status": "behind",
"ahead_by": 1,
"behind_by": 2,
"total_commits": 1,
"commits": [
{
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0NmRjYjA5YjViNTc4NzVmMzM0ZjYxYWViZWQ2OTVlMmU0MTkzZGI1ZQ==",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments",
"commit": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"author": {
"name": "Monalisa Octocat",
"email": "mona@github.com",
"date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
},
"committer": {
"name": "Monalisa Octocat",
"email": "mona@github.com",
"date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z"
},
"message": "Fix all the bugs",
"tree": {
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/tree/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
},
"comment_count": 0,
"verification": {
"verified": false,
"reason": "unsigned",
"signature": null,
"payload": null,
"verified_at": null
}
},
"author": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"site_admin": false
},
"committer": {
"login": "octocat",
"id": 1,
"node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=",
"avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif",
"gravatar_id": "",
"url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat",
"html_url": "https://github.com/octocat",
"followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers",
"following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}",
"gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}",
"starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
"subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions",
"organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs",
"repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos",
"events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}",
"received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events",
"type": "User",
"site_admin": false
},
"parents": [
{
"url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e"
}
]
}
],
"files": [
{
"sha": "bbcd538c8e72b8c175046e27cc8f907076331401",
"filename": "file1.txt",
"status": "added",
"additions": 103,
"deletions": 21,
"changes": 124,
"blob_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/blob/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/file1.txt",
"raw_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/raw/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/file1.txt",
"contents_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/contents/file1.txt?ref=6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e",
"patch": "@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ module Test @@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ module Test"
}
]
}

Resource not found

Media type application/json
Basic Error

Basic Error

object
message
string
documentation_url
string
url
string
status
string
Example generated
{
"message": "example",
"documentation_url": "example",
"url": "example",
"status": "example"
}

Internal Error

Media type application/json
Basic Error

Basic Error

object
message
string
documentation_url
string
url
string
status
string
Example generated
{
"message": "example",
"documentation_url": "example",
"url": "example",
"status": "example"
}

Service unavailable

Media type application/json
object
code
string
message
string
documentation_url
string
Example generated
{
"code": "example",
"message": "example",
"documentation_url": "example"
}