git Command Reference

Quick-reference for the most essential Git commands. Placeholders like <name> should be replaced with your actual values.

Setup Basics Branches Remote Undo Inspect Advanced

01 Setup & Init ⚙️

git config --global user.name "<name>"	Set your name. Git tags every commit with this. Do this once after installing.
git config --global user.email "<email>"	Set your email. Should match your GitHub/GitLab account.
git init	Create a new repo. Turns the current folder into a Git-tracked project.
git clone <url>	Download an existing repo. Creates a local copy including all history.

02 Day-to-Day Basics 📝

git status	See what's changed. Shows modified, staged, and untracked files. Run this often.
git add <file>	Stage a specific file. Marks it to be included in the next commit.
git add .	Stage everything. Stages all changes in the current folder and subfolders.
git commit -m "<msg>"	Save a snapshot. Records staged changes with a description. Use present tense: "Add login page".
git commit --amend	Fix the last commit. Edit the message or add forgotten files — before pushing.

03 Branches 🌿

git branch	List all branches. The current branch is marked with `*`.
git branch <name>	Create a branch. Makes a new branch but doesn't switch to it.
git switch <name>	Switch branches. Moves your working directory to that branch.
git switch -c <name>	Create & switch. Shortcut to make a new branch and jump to it immediately.
git merge <branch>	Merge a branch. Brings commits from another branch into your current one.
git branch -d <name>	Delete a branch. Safe delete — only works if already merged.

04 Remote (GitHub etc.) ☁️

git remote -v	List remotes. Shows the URL(s) your local repo is connected to.
git remote add origin <url>	Connect to remote. Links your local repo to a remote for the first time.
git push	Upload commits. Sends your local commits to the remote repository.
git push -u origin <branch>	Push a new branch. Creates the branch on the remote and sets tracking.
git pull	Download & merge. Fetches remote changes and merges them into your branch.
git fetch	Download only. Gets remote changes but doesn't merge — lets you review first.

05 Undoing Things ↩️

git restore <file>	Discard file changes. Reverts a file to how it was at the last commit. Unsaved edits are lost.
git restore --staged <file>	Unstage a file. Removes from staging area but keeps your edits in the working directory.
git revert <hash>	Undo a commit safely. Creates a new commit that reverses an old one. Safe to use on shared branches.
git reset --soft HEAD~1	Undo last commit (keep changes staged). Moves the pointer back but keeps your work ready to recommit.
git reset --hard HEAD~1 ⚠ destructive	Erase last commit & changes. Permanently discards the commit and all its changes. Cannot be undone.

06 Inspect & Compare 🔍

git log	View commit history. Shows all commits, newest first. Press `q` to quit.
git log --oneline	Compact history. One line per commit — great for a quick overview.
git log --oneline --graph	Visual branch history. Shows a text-art diagram of how branches diverge and merge.
git diff	See unstaged changes. Shows exactly what lines changed in your working directory.
git diff --staged	See staged changes. Shows what will be included in your next commit.
git show <hash>	Inspect a commit. Shows the changes made in a specific commit.

07 Handy Advanced Commands 🛠️

git stash	Shelve changes temporarily. Saves your dirty working state so you can switch tasks cleanly.
git stash pop	Restore stashed changes. Brings back what you stashed and removes it from the stash list.
git cherry-pick <hash>	Copy one commit. Applies a single commit from another branch onto your current branch.

git rebase <branch>	Replay commits on top of another. Keeps history clean and linear. Don't use on shared branches.
git tag <name>	Mark a version. Creates a named label (e.g. `v1.0`) on a commit for releases.
.gitignore	Exclude files from tracking. A text file listing patterns Git should ignore (e.g. `node_modules/`, `*.env`).

Use the present tense and be specific: "Fix login redirect bug" beats "fix stuff". Your future self will thank you when reading history.

Always work on a new branch for each feature or fix. Never commit directly to main. Branches are cheap — use them freely.

Commands marked destructive can't be undone. When in doubt, use git revert instead of reset --hard — it's safer on shared repos.