diff --git a/docs/_build/.gitignore b/docs/_build/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b1f9a2ade
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/_build/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Empty file, to make the directory available in the repository
diff --git a/docs/_static/.gitignore b/docs/_static/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b1f9a2ade
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/_static/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Empty file, to make the directory available in the repository
diff --git a/docs/_templates/.gitignore b/docs/_templates/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b1f9a2ade
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/_templates/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Empty file, to make the directory available in the repository