Essential Git Commands Cheat Sheet
Whether you are starting a new project or collaborating on a large codebase, these Git commands are essential for everyday version control.
1. Setup & Configuration
Configure your user information which will be attached to your commits.
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
2. Starting a Project
Initialize a new local repository or clone an existing one.
# Initialize a new local repository
git init
# Clone a remote repository
git clone <url>
3. Making Changes
Track files, stage changes, and commit them to your history.
# Check the status of your files
git status
# Stage a specific file
git add <file>
# Stage all changes
git add .
# Commit your staged changes with a descriptive message
git commit -m "Description of changes"
4. Branching & Merging
Isolate your work using branches.
# List all local branches
git branch
# Create a new branch
git branch <branch-name>
# Switch to a branch
git checkout <branch-name>
# or using switch (newer)
git switch <branch-name>
# Create and switch to a new branch in one command
git checkout -b <branch-name>
# Merge another branch into your current branch
git merge <branch-name>
5. Sharing & Updating
Synchronize your local repository with a remote server like GitHub or GitLab.
# Add a remote origin
git remote add origin <url>
# Push your commits to the remote branch
git push origin <branch-name>
# Fetch and merge changes from the remote server
git pull origin <branch-name>
6. Inspecting History
View the commit history to see what changes were made.
# View the commit log
git log
# View a concise, one-line summary of commits
git log --oneline
7. Advanced: Reset, Rebase, & Stash
When things go wrong or you need to rewrite history, these are your lifesavers.
# ----- STASHING -----
# Save uncommitted changes temporarily without committing them
git stash
# Apply the most recently stashed changes back to your working directory
git stash pop
# ----- RESETTING -----
# Soft Reset: Undo the last commit, but KEEP your files and changes staged
git reset --soft HEAD~1
# Mixed Reset (Default): Undo the commit and unstage files, but KEEP your changes
git reset HEAD~1
# Hard Reset: DANGER! Completely undo the last commit and DESTROY all changes
git reset --hard HEAD~1
# ----- REBASING -----
# Rebase your current branch onto another (e.g., main) to keep a linear history
git rebase main
# Interactive Rebase: Edit, squash, or reword the last 3 commits
git rebase -i HEAD~3
# Continue a rebase after resolving conflicts
git rebase --continue
Bookmark this guide to quickly look up commands during your development workflow!