Most-Used Git/GitHub Commands
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Git: learn version control through guided practice
Git is an essential tool for software development, DevOps, SRE, automation,
technical documentation, and collaborative work. It lets you save changes, compare versions,
create branches, work with teams, and connect your local repository with platforms such as
GitHub or GitLab.
What is Git and why does it matter?
Git records a project’s change history. Each commit works as a checkpoint that helps you review
what changed, who changed it, and why. With branches, you can build new features without affecting
the main version. With remotes, you can synchronize work with servers such as GitHub, GitLab,
Bitbucket, or internal company repositories.
1. Control
Keeps history, supports returning to previous versions, and reduces the risk of losing work.
2. Collaboration
Supports branches, reviews, Pull Requests, Merge Requests, and teamwork.
3. Automation
Forms the foundation for CI/CD, deployments, technical auditing, and modern DevOps practices.
Interactive Git emulator
Practice commands in a safe learning environment. The emulator shows the terminal, result output,
visual canvas, and textual explanation of what happens at each step.
40 Git commands explained
Use this table as a quick guide. Each command can be copied and pasted into the emulator
to practice the Git workflow step by step.
| # | Command | What it does | When to use it | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | git --version |
Checks the installed Git version. | Confirm Git is installed before starting. | |
| 2 | git config --global user.name "Your Name" |
Sets the global Git user name. | Initial workstation setup. | |
| 3 | git config --global user.email "email@domain.com" |
Sets the global Git user email. | Associate commits with your identity. | |
| 4 | git config --list |
Shows the active Git configuration. | Review user, email, and settings. | |
| 5 | git init |
Creates a Git repository in the current folder. | Start local version control. | |
| 6 | git clone https://github.com/user/project.git |
Downloads a full copy of a remote repository. | Work on an existing project. | |
| 7 | git status |
Shows modified, new, or staged files. | Review state before committing. | |
| 8 | git add file.txt |
Adds a specific file to the staging area. | Prepare a focused change. | |
| 9 | git add . |
Adds all changes from the current directory. | Stage all local changes. | |
| 10 | git restore file.txt |
Discards unstaged changes in a file. | Revert unwanted local edits. | |
| 11 | git restore --staged file.txt |
Removes a file from staging without deleting edits. | Fix what was about to be committed. | |
| 12 | git commit -m "Clear change message" |
Records staged changes in history. | Save a logical unit of work. | |
| 13 | git commit --amend -m "New message" |
Updates the latest local commit. | Fix a message or include a forgotten file. | |
| 14 | git log --oneline |
Shows compact commit history. | Quickly review the timeline. | |
| 15 | git log --graph --oneline --decorate --all |
Shows history with branches and references. | Understand branches and merges visually. | |
| 16 | git diff |
Shows unstaged differences. | Review changes before git add. | |
| 17 | git diff --staged |
Shows staged differences. | Validate what will enter the commit. | |
| 18 | git branch |
Lists local branches. | Know which branch you are working on. | |
| 19 | git branch feature/login |
Creates a new branch without switching to it. | Prepare a parallel line of work. | |
| 20 | git checkout -b feature/login |
Creates a branch and switches to it. | Start a new feature. | |
| 21 | git switch main |
Switches to the main branch. | Return to the main branch. | |
| 22 | git switch -c feature/api |
Creates and switches to a branch using modern syntax. | Modern alternative to checkout -b. | |
| 23 | git merge feature/login |
Integrates a branch into the current branch. | Join validated changes. | |
| 24 | git merge --abort |
Cancels a merge with conflicts. | Return to the pre-merge state. | |
| 25 | git rebase main |
Reapplies current branch commits on top of main. | Keep a linear history before integration. | |
| 26 | git rebase --abort |
Cancels an in-progress rebase. | Exit a problematic rebase. | |
| 27 | git remote -v |
Shows configured remote repositories. | Verify origin or other remote URLs. | |
| 28 | git remote add origin https://github.com/user/project.git |
Adds a remote repository named origin. | Connect a local project to a remote server. | |
| 29 | git fetch origin |
Downloads remote references without merging. | Update information before deciding. | |
| 30 | git pull origin main |
Downloads and integrates remote main changes. | Update your local branch. | |
| 31 | git push origin main |
Sends local commits to remote main. | Publish committed changes. | |
| 32 | git push -u origin feature/login |
Publishes a branch and sets upstream tracking. | First push of a new branch. | |
| 33 | git stash |
Temporarily saves changes without committing. | Switch branches without losing work. | |
| 34 | git stash list |
Lists temporarily saved changes. | Review available stashes. | |
| 35 | git stash pop |
Restores the latest stash and removes it from the list. | Continue paused work. | |
| 36 | git tag v1.0.0 |
Creates a local tag. | Mark an important version. | |
| 37 | git push origin v1.0.0 |
Publishes a tag to the remote. | Share a released version. | |
| 38 | git reset --soft HEAD~1 |
Undoes the last commit while keeping changes staged. | Reorganize a recent commit. | |
| 39 | git reset --hard HEAD~1 |
Deletes the last commit and its local changes. | Use only when sure; it removes changes. | |
| 40 | git cherry-pick abc1234 |
Applies a specific commit to the current branch. | Move one targeted change between branches. |
Start with
status, add, commit, branch,merge, pull, and push. Then move to rebase,stash, tag, reset, and cherry-pick.