---
name: "hg-identify"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "mercurial"
version: "7.2.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/hg-identify"
---

# hg-identify(1)

identify the working directory or specified revision

## NAME

hg identify - identify the working directory or specified revision

## SYNOPSIS

```
hg identify [-nibtB] [-r REV] [SOURCE]
```

## DESCRIPTION

Print a summary identifying the repository state at REV using one or two parent hash identifiers, followed by a "+" if the working directory has uncommitted changes, the branch name (if not default), a list of tags, and a list of bookmarks.

When REV is not given, print a summary of the current state of the repository including the working directory. Specify -r. to get information of the working directory parent without scanning uncommitted changes.

Specifying a path to a repository root or Mercurial bundle will cause lookup to operate on that repository/bundle.

Template:

The following keywords are supported in addition to the common template keywords and functions. See also **hg help templates**.

- **dirty**

  String. Character **+** denoting if the working directory has uncommitted changes.

- **id**

  String. One or two nodes, optionally followed by **+**.

- **parents**

  List of strings. Parent nodes of the changeset.

  Examples:

- •

  generate a build identifier for the working directory:

  ```
  hg id --id > build-id.dat
  ```

- •

  find the revision corresponding to a tag:

  ```
  hg id -n -r 1.3
  ```

- •

  check the most recent revision of a remote repository:

  ```
  hg id -r tip https://www.mercurial-scm.org/repo/hg/
  ```

  See **hg log** for generating more information about specific revisions, including full hash identifiers.

  Returns 0 if successful.

## OPTIONS

- **-r,***--rev* **\<REV\>**

  identify the specified revision

- **-n, --num**

  show local revision number

- **-i, --id**

  show global revision id

- **-b, --branch**

  show branch

- **-t, --tags**

  show tags

- **-B, --bookmarks**

  show bookmarks

- **-e,***--ssh* **\<CMD\>**

  specify ssh command to use

- **--remotecmd** *\<CMD\>*

  specify hg command to run on the remote side

- **--insecure**

  do not verify server certificate (ignoring web.cacerts config)

- **-T,***--template* **\<TEMPLATE\>**

  display with template

## ALIASES

```
id
```