GitHub is a developer platform for storing, managing and sharing code with Git. It is headquartered in San Francisco and has been a subsidiary of Microsoft since 2018. GitHub reported more than 100 million developers as of January 2023.
The brand has two parts: the GitHub wordmark and the Invertocat, a silhouette of the Octocat. The Octocat art began as an iStock image by Simon Oxley; because the license did not allow logo use, GitHub bought exclusive rights from him. GitHub runs an official media kit and a brand site with its color system.
Logo history
- April 2008: GitHub launches.
- April 2013: The logo is redesigned, per the Commons file GitHub logo 2013.
- 2025: GitHub Copilot drops its standalone logo, per the brand toolkit.
This timeline lists only changes that a cited source confirms. Earlier or minor variants of the GitHub mark that could not be dated from a primary or reputable source are left out rather than guessed.
Logo colors
| Color | HEX | RGB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near black | #111111 | 17, 17, 17 | Commons SVG fill (#111) |
The GitHub palette in this draft has 1 recorded value. Near black is #111111, which is RGB 17, 17, 17. Where a value comes from a redrawn vector rather than the owner’s own guide, check it against official files before using it in design work.
GitHub’s toolkit says the Invertocat and wordmark appear only in white, black, or in a few cases grey or green.
Typography
Mona Sans is GitHub’s primary typeface and Hubot Sans its secondary, per the brand toolkit.
Design context and usage rules
The toolkit calls the Invertocat the primary logo. The lockup with the wordmark is used in most places, while the standalone Invertocat suits GitHub owned settings. The name is always one word with a capital G and H. Rules forbid rearranging the elements, using mascots in place of the logo, adding shadows or gradients and placing the logo on busy backgrounds.
FAQ
What is the GitHub cat called?
The Octocat; the silhouette logo is often called the Invertocat.
Who drew the Octocat?
Simon Oxley.
Where do I get official GitHub logos?
github.com/media-kit.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GitHub
- https://github.com/media-kit
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GitHub_logo_2013.svg
- https://brand.github.com/
- https://brand.github.com/foundations/logo
- https://brand.github.com/foundations/typography
Logos shown are trademarks of their owners and are provided for identification and reference. To request removal, contact [email protected].