2020-07-28 18:09:36 +00:00
---
stage: Create
group: Source Code
2022-09-22 00:11:23 +00:00
info: "To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments"
2020-07-28 18:09:36 +00:00
type: reference
---
2021-02-09 18:09:59 +00:00
# Git Attributes **(FREE)**
2016-10-12 12:51:56 +00:00
2020-04-21 15:21:10 +00:00
GitLab supports defining custom [Git attributes ](https://git-scm.com/docs/gitattributes ) such as what
2016-10-12 12:51:56 +00:00
files to treat as binary, and what language to use for syntax highlighting
diffs.
To define these attributes, create a file called `.gitattributes` in the root
directory of your repository and push it to the default branch of your project.
## Encoding Requirements
The `.gitattributes` file _must_ be encoded in UTF-8 and _must not_ contain a
2021-03-08 18:09:12 +00:00
Byte Order Mark. If a different encoding is used, the file's contents are
2016-10-12 12:51:56 +00:00
ignored.
## Syntax Highlighting
The `.gitattributes` file can be used to define which language to use when
2022-08-24 00:12:25 +00:00
syntax highlighting files and diffs. See
2022-08-08 15:10:32 +00:00
["Syntax Highlighting" ](highlighting.md ) for more information.