Top 20 Git Commands You Must Know (With Examples)

3 min read3 days ago

Top 20 Git Commands with Examples

Git is one of the most widely used version control systems, allowing developers to track changes, collaborate, and manage their code efficiently.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, knowing essential Git commands is crucial for efficient workflow. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top 20 Git commands with examples to help you master Git.

1. git init

Initializes a new Git repository in the current directory.

$ git init

2. git clone

Creates a copy of an existing repository.

$ git clone https://github.com/user/repository.git

3. git status

Shows the status of the working directory and staging area.

$ git status

4. git add

Stages changes for the next commit.

$ git add filename
$ git add .  # Stages all changes

5. git commit

Saves staged changes to the repository.

$ git commit -m "Your commit message"

6. git log

Displays the commit history.

$ git log

7. git branch

Lists, creates, or deletes branches.

$ git branch           # List branches
$ git branch new-branch  # Create a new branch
$ git branch -d branch-name  # Delete a branch

8. git checkout

Switches between branches.

$ git checkout branch-name

9. git merge

Merges a branch into the current branch.

$ git merge branch-name

10. git pull

Fetches and integrates changes from a remote repository.

$ git pull origin main

11. git push

Uploads local changes to a remote repository.

$ git push origin branch-name

12. git remote

Manages connections to remote repositories.

$ git remote -v   # List remotes
$ git remote add origin https://github.com/user/repository.git  # Add a remote

13. git reset

Resets changes in the working directory or staging area.

$ git reset filename  # Unstage a file
$ git reset --hard    # Reset everything

14. git revert

Creates a new commit that undoes changes from a previous commit.

$ git revert commit-hash

15. git stash

Temporarily saves changes without committing them.

$ git stash
$ git stash pop  # Apply stashed changes

16. git diff

Shows differences between files.

$ git diff  # View unstaged changes

17. git fetch

Retrieves changes from a remote repository but does not merge them.

$ git fetch origin

18. git tag

Creates tags to mark specific commits.

$ git tag v1.0  # Create a tag
$ git tag  # List all tags

19. git cherry-pick

Applies changes from a specific commit to the current branch.

$ git cherry-pick commit-hash

20. git rebase

Reapplies commits on top of another base commit.

$ git rebase branch-name

Conclusion

Git is a powerful tool for version control, and mastering these commands will help you efficiently manage your projects.

Whether you’re working alone or collaborating with a team, understanding these essential Git commands ensures a smoother development process.

Which Git command do you use the most? Let us know in the comments! 🚀