checkout/README.md

[![Build and Test](https://github.com/actions/checkout/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/actions/checkout/actions/workflows/test.yml)

# Checkout V4

This action checks-out your repository under `$GITHUB_WORKSPACE`, so your workflow can access it.

Only a single commit is fetched by default, for the ref/SHA that triggered the workflow. Set `fetch-depth: 0` to fetch all history for all branches and tags. Refer [here](https://docs.github.com/actions/using-workflows/events-that-trigger-workflows) to learn which commit `$GITHUB_SHA` points to for different events.

The auth token is persisted in the local git config. This enables your scripts to run authenticated git commands. The token is removed during post-job cleanup. Set `persist-credentials: false` to opt-out.

When Git 2.18 or higher is not in your PATH, falls back to the REST API to download the files.

# What's new

Please refer to the [release page](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases/latest) for the latest release notes.

# Usage

<!-- start usage -->
```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    # Repository name with owner. For example, actions/checkout
    # Default: ${{ github.repository }}
    repository: ''

    # The branch, tag or SHA to checkout. When checking out the repository that
    # triggered a workflow, this defaults to the reference or SHA for that event.
    # Otherwise, uses the default branch.
    ref: ''

    # Personal access token (PAT) used to fetch the repository. The PAT is configured
    # with the local git config, which enables your scripts to run authenticated git
    # commands. The post-job step removes the PAT.
    #
    # We recommend using a service account with the least permissions necessary. Also
    # when generating a new PAT, select the least scopes necessary.
    #
    # [Learn more about creating and using encrypted secrets](https://help.github.com/en/actions/automating-your-workflow-with-github-actions/creating-and-using-encrypted-secrets)
    #
    # Default: ${{ github.token }}
    token: ''

    # SSH key used to fetch the repository. The SSH key is configured with the local
    # git config, which enables your scripts to run authenticated git commands. The
    # post-job step removes the SSH key.
    #
    # We recommend using a service account with the least permissions necessary.
    #
    # [Learn more about creating and using encrypted secrets](https://help.github.com/en/actions/automating-your-workflow-with-github-actions/creating-and-using-encrypted-secrets)
    ssh-key: ''

    # Known hosts in addition to the user and global host key database. The public SSH
    # keys for a host may be obtained using the utility `ssh-keyscan`. For example,
    # `ssh-keyscan github.com`. The public key for github.com is always implicitly
    # added.
    ssh-known-hosts: ''

    # Whether to perform strict host key checking. When true, adds the options
    # `StrictHostKeyChecking=yes` and `CheckHostIP=no` to the SSH command line. Use
    # the input `ssh-known-hosts` to configure additional hosts.
    # Default: true
    ssh-strict: ''

    # Whether to configure the token or SSH key with the local git config
    # Default: true
    persist-credentials: ''

    # Relative path under $GITHUB_WORKSPACE to place the repository
    path: ''

    # Whether to execute `git clean -ffdx && git reset --hard HEAD` before fetching
    # Default: true
    clean: ''

    # Partially clone against a given filter. Overrides sparse-checkout if set.
    # Default: null
    filter: ''

    # Do a sparse checkout on given patterns. Each pattern should be separated with
    # new lines.
    # Default: null
    sparse-checkout: ''

    # Specifies whether to use cone-mode when doing a sparse checkout.
    # Default: true
    sparse-checkout-cone-mode: ''

    # Number of commits to fetch. 0 indicates all history for all branches and tags.
    # Default: 1
    fetch-depth: ''

    # Whether to fetch tags, even if fetch-depth > 0.
    # Default: false
    fetch-tags: ''

    # Whether to show progress status output when fetching.
    # Default: true
    show-progress: ''

    # Whether to download Git-LFS files
    # Default: false
    lfs: ''

    # Whether to checkout submodules: `true` to checkout submodules or `recursive` to
    # recursively checkout submodules.
    #
    # When the `ssh-key` input is not provided, SSH URLs beginning with
    # `git@github.com:` are converted to HTTPS.
    #
    # Default: false
    submodules: ''

    # Add repository path as safe.directory for Git global config by running `git
    # config --global --add safe.directory <path>`
    # Default: true
    set-safe-directory: ''

    # The base URL for the GitHub instance that you are trying to clone from, will use
    # environment defaults to fetch from the same instance that the workflow is
    # running from unless specified. Example URLs are https://github.com or
    # https://my-ghes-server.example.com
    github-server-url: ''
```
<!-- end usage -->

# Scenarios

- [Fetch only the root files](#Fetch-only-the-root-files)
- [Fetch only the root files and `.github` and `src` folder](#Fetch-only-the-root-files-and-github-and-src-folder)
- [Fetch only a single file](#Fetch-only-a-single-file)
- [Fetch all history for all tags and branches](#Fetch-all-history-for-all-tags-and-branches)
- [Checkout a different branch](#Checkout-a-different-branch)
- [Checkout HEAD^](#Checkout-HEAD)
- [Checkout multiple repos (side by side)](#Checkout-multiple-repos-side-by-side)
- [Checkout multiple repos (nested)](#Checkout-multiple-repos-nested)
- [Checkout multiple repos (private)](#Checkout-multiple-repos-private)
- [Checkout pull request HEAD commit instead of merge commit](#Checkout-pull-request-HEAD-commit-instead-of-merge-commit)
- [Checkout pull request on closed event](#Checkout-pull-request-on-closed-event)
- [Push a commit using the built-in token](#Push-a-commit-using-the-built-in-token)

## Fetch only the root files

```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    sparse-checkout: .
```

## Fetch only the root files and `.github` and `src` folder

```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    sparse-checkout: |
      .github
      src      
```

## Fetch only a single file

```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    sparse-checkout: |
      README.md      
    sparse-checkout-cone-mode: false
```

## Fetch all history for all tags and branches

```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    fetch-depth: 0
```

## Checkout a different branch

```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    ref: my-branch
```

## Checkout HEAD^

```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    fetch-depth: 2
- run: git checkout HEAD^
```

## Checkout multiple repos (side by side)

```yaml
- name: Checkout
  uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    path: main

- name: Checkout tools repo
  uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    repository: my-org/my-tools
    path: my-tools
```
> - If your secondary repository is private you will need to add the option noted in [Checkout multiple repos (private)](#Checkout-multiple-repos-private)

## Checkout multiple repos (nested)

```yaml
- name: Checkout
  uses: actions/checkout@v4

- name: Checkout tools repo
  uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    repository: my-org/my-tools
    path: my-tools
```
> - If your secondary repository is private you will need to add the option noted in [Checkout multiple repos (private)](#Checkout-multiple-repos-private)

## Checkout multiple repos (private)

```yaml
- name: Checkout
  uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    path: main

- name: Checkout private tools
  uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    repository: my-org/my-private-tools
    token: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT }} # `GH_PAT` is a secret that contains your PAT
    path: my-tools
```

> - `${{ github.token }}` is scoped to the current repository, so if you want to checkout a different repository that is private you will need to provide your own [PAT](https://help.github.com/en/github/authenticating-to-github/creating-a-personal-access-token-for-the-command-line).


## Checkout pull request HEAD commit instead of merge commit

The default behavior of a `pull_request` event is to checkout to a ref that already merged your branch into the base branch (So don't be surprised to see the SHA checked out doesn't match your local HEAD SHA). You can change that to checkout your pull request's HEAD by: 

```yaml
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
  with:
    ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
```

## Checkout pull request on closed event

```yaml
on:
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]
    types: [opened, synchronize, closed]
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
```

## Push a commit using the built-in token

```yaml
on: push
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - run: |
          date > generated.txt
          git config user.name github-actions
          git config user.email github-actions@github.com
          git add .
          git commit -m "generated"
          git push          
```

# License

The scripts and documentation in this project are released under the [MIT License](LICENSE)