While the`CODEOWNERS` file can be used in addition to Merge Request [Approval Rules](merge_requests/merge_request_approvals.md#approval-rules) it can also be used as the sole driver of a Merge Request approval (without using [Approval Rules](merge_requests/merge_request_approvals.md#approval-rules)) by simply creating the file in one of the three locations specified above, configuring the Code Owners to be required approvers for [protected branches](protected_branches.md#protected-branches-approval-by-code-owners-premium) and then using [the syntax of Code Owners files](code_owners.md#the-syntax-of-code-owners-files) to specify the actual owners and granular permissions.
## The syntax of Code Owners files
Files can be specified using the same kind of patterns you would use
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@@ -96,14 +99,17 @@ escaped using `\#` to address files for which the name starts with a
Example `CODEOWNERS` file:
```plaintext
# This is an example code owners file, lines starting with a `#` will
# be ignored.
# This is an example of a code owners file
# lines starting with a `#` will be ignored.
# app/ @commented-rule
# We can specify a default match using wildcards:
* @default-codeowner
# We can also specify "multiple tab or space" separated codeowners:
* @multiple @code @owners
# Rules defined later in the file take precedence over the rules
# defined before.
# This will match all files for which the file name ends in `.rb`
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@@ -113,6 +119,8 @@ Example `CODEOWNERS` file:
\#file_with_pound.rb @owner-file-with-pound
# Multiple codeowners can be specified, separated by spaces or tabs
# In the following case the CODEOWNERS file from the root of the repo
# has 3 code owners (@multiple @code @owners)
CODEOWNERS @multiple @code @owners
# Both usernames or email addresses can be used to match
