GitHub PR Checks
When to use
- The user asks about CI status or checks on a PR.
- Monitoring build/test results before merge.
- Waiting for checks to complete.
Inputs to confirm
- PR number, URL, or branch name (or current branch PR).
- Whether to watch/wait for completion.
- Target repo if not current (
--repo OWNER/REPO).
Workflow
- Verify auth:
gh --version gh auth status - View check status:
gh pr checks 123 gh pr checks # current branch PR - Watch checks until completion:
gh pr checks 123 --watch gh pr checks 123 --watch --fail-fast - Get JSON output for scripting:
gh pr checks 123 --json name,state,conclusion - View only required checks:
gh pr checks 123 --required
Examples
# Check current PR status
gh pr checks
# Watch until all checks complete
gh pr checks 123 --watch
# Exit on first failure while watching
gh pr checks 123 --watch --fail-fast
# View in browser
gh pr checks 123 --web
# Get JSON with bucket categorization
gh pr checks 123 --json name,state,bucket --jq '.[] | select(.bucket == "fail")'
Flags reference
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--watch |
Watch checks until they finish |
--fail-fast |
Exit watch on first failure |
-i, --interval |
Refresh interval in seconds (default 10) |
--required |
Show only required checks |
--json |
Output JSON (fields: bucket, name, state, etc.) |
-w, --web |
Open checks in browser |
Exit codes
0: All checks passed1: Error occurred8: Checks still pending
Notes
- The
bucketJSON field categorizes state into: pass, fail, pending, skipping, cancel. - Use
--requiredto focus on blocking checks. --watchis useful in CI scripts waiting for dependent checks.
References
- GitHub CLI manual: https://cli.github.com/manual/
gh pr checks --help