'\" t
.\"     Title: git-credential-cache
.\"    Author: [FIXME: author] [see http://docbook.sf.net/el/author]
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets v1.78.1 <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: 01/13/2026
.\"    Manual: Git Manual
.\"    Source: Git 1.8.3.1
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "GIT\-CREDENTIAL\-CAC" "1" "01/13/2026" "Git 1\&.8\&.3\&.1" "Git Manual"
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.SH "NAME"
git-credential-cache \- Helper to temporarily store passwords in memory
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.sp
.nf
git config credential\&.helper \(aqcache [options]\(aq
.fi
.sp
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.sp
This command caches credentials in memory for use by future Git programs\&. The stored credentials never touch the disk, and are forgotten after a configurable timeout\&. The cache is accessible over a Unix domain socket, restricted to the current user by filesystem permissions\&.
.sp
You probably don\(cqt want to invoke this command directly; it is meant to be used as a credential helper by other parts of Git\&. See \fBgitcredentials\fR(7) or EXAMPLES below\&.
.SH "OPTIONS"
.PP
\-\-timeout <seconds>
.RS 4
Number of seconds to cache credentials (default: 900)\&.
.RE
.PP
\-\-socket <path>
.RS 4
Use
<path>
to contact a running cache daemon (or start a new cache daemon if one is not started)\&. Defaults to
~/\&.git\-credential\-cache/socket\&. If your home directory is on a network\-mounted filesystem, you may need to change this to a local filesystem\&.
.RE
.SH "CONTROLLING THE DAEMON"
.sp
If you would like the daemon to exit early, forgetting all cached credentials before their timeout, you can issue an exit action:
.sp
.if n \{\
.RS 4
.\}
.nf
git credential\-cache exit
.fi
.if n \{\
.RE
.\}
.sp
.SH "EXAMPLES"
.sp
The point of this helper is to reduce the number of times you must type your username or password\&. For example:
.sp
.if n \{\
.RS 4
.\}
.nf
$ git config credential\&.helper cache
$ git push http://example\&.com/repo\&.git
Username: <type your username>
Password: <type your password>

[work for 5 more minutes]
$ git push http://example\&.com/repo\&.git
[your credentials are used automatically]
.fi
.if n \{\
.RE
.\}
.sp
.sp
You can provide options via the credential\&.helper configuration variable (this example drops the cache time to 5 minutes):
.sp
.if n \{\
.RS 4
.\}
.nf
$ git config credential\&.helper \(aqcache \-\-timeout=300\(aq
.fi
.if n \{\
.RE
.\}
.sp
.SH "GIT"
.sp
Part of the \fBgit\fR(1) suite
