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.helmignore

What is a .helmignore file?

Helm chart packaging exclusions — gitignore-style file declaring what NOT to bundle when running `helm package` on a Kubernetes chart.

Safe format
Type Code
By Helm Project (CNCF)
MIME text/plain

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What is it

Helm packages Kubernetes charts (templated YAML manifests) into versioned `.tgz` archives for distribution via Helm repositories. `helm package my-chart/` walks the chart directory and tars everything up — except files matching .helmignore patterns. Without it, your chart archive ends up shipping `.git/`, IDE settings, and developer notes alongside the actual chart manifests.

The syntax is gitignore-style: glob patterns, `!` for re-includes, `#` for comments. Default contents (auto-created by `helm create`) cover the obvious junk: `.git/`, `*.swp`, `.idea/`, `.vscode/`, `.DS_Store`, `*.bak`, log files. Bigger Helm charts often add their own exclusions for test fixtures, local-dev overrides, or generated docs that don't belong in the published package.

.helmignore is the cousin of .gitignore (which protects the repo) and .dockerignore (which protects Docker images). Same pattern syntax, different context. The packaging-exclusion problem keeps recurring: every tool that turns a directory into a distributable archive eventually invents one of these files. Helm's chose to follow the gitignore convention rather than invent something new, which makes it instantly familiar to anyone who's used git.

Technical details
Full Name
.helmignore
MIME Type
text/plain
Developer
Helm Project (CNCF)
Magic Bytes
N/A
Safety
.helmignore is a known, safe format.
What opens it
Any text editor
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VS Code
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FAQ
Do I need a .helmignore if I already have a .gitignore?
Yes. Helm doesn't read .gitignore. Even if your .gitignore covers most of what should be excluded, you need .helmignore for `helm package` to skip those files. The patterns are usually similar — many projects copy their .gitignore into .helmignore as a starting point.
What happens if I don't have a .helmignore?
`helm package` includes everything in the chart directory in the .tgz archive. Your published chart bloats with files users don't need (and possibly shouldn't see — local dev manifests, secrets in plain text, IDE config). `helm create` generates a sensible default .helmignore for you, so just don't delete it.
Related formats
.dockerignore
.dockerignore
.gitignore
.gitignore