Learn Git

Git commands

Don't just memorize Git's commands. Learn how they really work.

Browse by category 75 commands

Git command git init

Where every repository starts

Image of git init: where every repository starts

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Git command git clone

A full copy, history and all

Image of git clone: a full copy, history and all

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Git command git config

Telling Git who you are

Image of git config: telling Git who you are

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Git command git status

Reading the three lists

Image of git status: reading the three lists

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Git command git add

The pause between editing and committing

Image of git add: the pause between editing and committing

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Git command git commit

Taking the snapshot

Image of git commit: taking the snapshot

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Git command git commit -a

Skipping the git add step

Image of git commit -a: skipping the git add step

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Git command git rm

Removing a file from the repository and the disk

Image of git rm: removing a file from the repository and the disk

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Git command git rm --cached

Stop tracking a file, keep it on disk

Image of git rm --cached: stop tracking a file, keep it on disk

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Git command git mv

How Git renames a file

Image of git mv: how Git renames a file

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Git command git clean

Deleting the files Git has never heard of

Image of git clean: deleting the files Git has never heard of

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Git command git clean -fd

Untracked folders go too

Image of git clean -fd: untracked folders go too

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Git command git clean -n

The preview before the delete

Image of git clean -n: the preview before the delete

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Git command git log

Reading history backwards

Image of git log: reading history backwards

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Git command git show

Open any object Git has stored

Image of git show: open any object Git has stored

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Git command git blame

Which commit last touched this line

Image of git blame: which commit last touched this line

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Git command git bisect

Binary search for the commit that broke it

Image of git bisect: binary search for the commit that broke it

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Git command git diff

What changed, and compared to what

Image of git diff: what changed, and compared to what

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Git command git branch

A name pointing at a commit

Image of git branch: a name pointing at a commit

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Git command git switch

Change branches, nothing else

Image of git switch: change branches, nothing else

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Git command git switch -c

A new branch from where you are

Image of git switch -c: a new branch from where you are

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Git command git branch -m

A new name, the same commits

Image of git branch -m: a new name, the same commits

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Git command git branch -d

Git checks before it deletes

Image of git branch -d: Git checks before it deletes

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Git command git branch -D

Deleting a branch Git would rather keep

Image of git branch -D: deleting a branch Git would rather keep

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Git command git switch --detach

Detached HEAD, on purpose

Image of git switch --detach: detached HEAD, on purpose

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Git command git checkout

The Swiss army knife that moves HEAD

Image of git checkout: the Swiss army knife that moves HEAD

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Git command git checkout -b

Branch and switch in one move

Image of git checkout -b: branch and switch in one move

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Git command git checkout <commit>

Stepping off your branch into detached HEAD

Image of git checkout <commit>: stepping off your branch into detached HEAD

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Git command git merge

How two branches become one

Image of git merge: how two branches become one

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Git command Fast-forward merges

When merging just moves a label

Image of Fast-forward merges: when merging just moves a label

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Git command git merge --no-ff

The merge commit you asked for

Image of git merge --no-ff: the merge commit you asked for

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Git command git merge --squash

A whole branch as one staged change

Image of git merge --squash: a whole branch as one staged change

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Git command git merge --continue

Finishing the merge you fixed

Image of git merge --continue: finishing the merge you fixed

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Git command git merge --abort

Backing out of a conflicted merge

Image of git merge --abort: backing out of a conflicted merge

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Git command git rebase

Your commits, replayed

Image of git rebase: your commits, replayed

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Git command git rebase -i

Editing history with a to-do list

Image of git rebase -i: editing history with a to-do list

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Git command git rebase --onto

Moving only part of a branch

Image of git rebase --onto: moving only part of a branch

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Git command git rebase --continue

Picking up where the conflict stopped you

Image of git rebase --continue: picking up where the conflict stopped you

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Git command git rebase --skip

Leaving the conflicting commit behind

Image of git rebase --skip: leaving the conflicting commit behind

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Git command git rebase --abort

Back to where the rebase started

Image of git rebase --abort: back to where the rebase started

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Git command git cherry-pick

Apply one commit's change to another branch

Image of git cherry-pick: apply one commit's change to another branch

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Git command git cherry-pick --abort

Calling off a pick that conflicted

Image of git cherry-pick --abort: calling off a pick that conflicted

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Git command git cherry-pick --continue

Finishing a pick that conflicted

Image of git cherry-pick --continue: finishing a pick that conflicted

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Git command git cherry-pick A..B

Applying a run of commits

Image of git cherry-pick A..B: applying a run of commits

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Git command git remote add

A nickname for another repository

Image of git remote add: a nickname for another repository

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Git command git fetch

The safe half of git pull

Image of git fetch: the safe half of git pull

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Git command git fetch --prune

Clearing out remote branches that are gone

Image of git fetch --prune: clearing out remote branches that are gone

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Git command git pull

Fetch, then merge, in one command

Image of git pull: fetch, then merge, in one command

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Git command git pull --rebase

Your commits on top, no merge commit

Image of git pull --rebase: your commits on top, no merge commit

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Git command git push

Sending your commits up

Image of git push: sending your commits up

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Git command git push -u

Publishing a new branch

Image of git push -u: publishing a new branch

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Git command git push --force-with-lease

The force push with a seatbelt

Image of git push --force-with-lease: the force push with a seatbelt

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Git command git push --force

Rewriting history other people have

Image of git push --force: rewriting history other people have

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Git command git push --delete

Removing a branch from the remote

Image of git push --delete: removing a branch from the remote

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Git command git tag

A name that never moves

Image of git tag: a name that never moves

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Git command git tag -d

Removing a tag, here and on the remote

Image of git tag -d: removing a tag, here and on the remote

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Git command git push --tags

Sending your tags to the remote

Image of git push --tags: sending your tags to the remote

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Git command git stash

A drawer for half-finished work

Image of git stash: a drawer for half-finished work

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Git command git stash -u

Stashing the new files too

Image of git stash -u: stashing the new files too

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Git command git stash list

Reading the shelf

Image of git stash list: reading the shelf

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Git command git stash pop

Getting the drawer back out

Image of git stash pop: getting the drawer back out

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Git command git stash apply

Restore the changes, keep the entry

Image of git stash apply: restore the changes, keep the entry

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Git command git stash drop

Throwing one stash away

Image of git stash drop: throwing one stash away

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Git command git worktree add

Two branches checked out at once

Image of git worktree add: two branches checked out at once

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Git command git worktree remove

Putting the second directory away

Image of git worktree remove: putting the second directory away

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Git command git restore --staged

Unstage, keep the edits

Image of git restore --staged: unstage, keep the edits

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Git command git restore

Throwing away edits on purpose

Image of git restore: throwing away edits on purpose

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Git command git commit --amend

Fixing the last commit in place

Image of git commit --amend: fixing the last commit in place

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Git command git reset HEAD file

Unstaging one file

Image of git reset HEAD file: unstaging one file

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Git command git reset --soft

Uncommit without touching a file

Image of git reset --soft: uncommit without touching a file

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Git command git reset

The default that keeps your edits

Image of git reset: the default that keeps your edits

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Git command git reset --hard

The one that actually deletes

Image of git reset --hard: the one that actually deletes

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Git command git revert

Undo by adding, not deleting

Image of git revert: undo by adding, not deleting

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Git command git revert -m 1

Undoing a whole merge

Image of git revert -m 1: undoing a whole merge

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Git command git reflog

Git's black box recorder

Image of git reflog: Git's black box recorder

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