21 Essential Git Commands Every Developer Should Know

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Xgare Technologies

Version control is the foundation of every modern development workflow — and Git is the most popular and powerful tool for it.
Whether you’re a beginner learning your first commands or a Full Stack engineer managing multiple branches, mastering Git will make your life easier and your projects cleaner.

In this article, we’ll cover 21 essential Git commands every developer should know — with examples and when to use them.

1. Initialize a New Repository

git init

Creates a new local Git repository in your project directory.
A hidden .git folder is created to track your code history.

2. Clone an Existing Repository

git clone <repository_url>

Copies a remote repository (like from GitHub or GitLab) to your local system.

3. Check Repository Status

git status

Displays the current working state of your project — modified, staged, or untracked files.

4. Add Files to Staging Area

git add <file_name>

Stage specific files, or use:

git add .

to stage all modified files.

5. Commit Changes

git commit -m "Add user authentication feature"

Saves your staged changes with a descriptive message.

6. View Commit History

git log

Shows commit history.

Use this for a concise view:

git log --oneline

7. Create a New Branch

git branch feature/login

Creates a new branch without switching to it.

8. Switch Between Branches

git checkout feature/login

Switches to the specified branch.

9. Merge Branches

git merge <branch_name>

10. Push Changes to Remote

git push origin <branch_name>

Uploads your commits to a remote repository branch.

11. Pull Changes from Remote

git pull

Fetches and integrates changes from a remote branch to your local branch.

12. Compare Changes

git diff

Shows differences between working directory and staging area.

13. Remove Files from Repository

`git rm

git commit -m "Remove old configuration file"
`
Deletes a tracked file and commits the removal.

14. Undo Changes

Undo unstaged changes:

git checkout -- <file_name>

Undo staged changes:

git reset <file_name>

Undo last commit but keep changes:

git reset --soft HEAD~1

15. View Remote Repositories

git remote -v

Lists connected remote repositories and their URLs.

16. Stash Temporary Changes

git stash

Saves uncommitted changes temporarily.

To retrieve later:

git stash pop

List all stashes:

git stash list

17. Tag a Commit (For Releases)

git tag v1.0.0
git push origin v1.0.0


Tags mark specific commits — often used for versioning releases.

18. Rename a Branch

git branch -m old_branch_name new_branch_name

Renames your local branch.

19. Delete a Branch

Delete locally:

git branch -d feature/login

Delete remotely:

git push origin --delete feature/login

20. Revert a Commit

git revert <commit_id>

Creates a new commit that undoes the changes of a previous commit without altering history.

21. Configure User Information

git config --global user.name "github_username"
git config --global user.email "github_mail_Id"


Sets up your Git username and email (used for commit metadata).

Final Thoughts

Git isn’t just a version control tool — it’s a developer’s time machine.
It helps you experiment fearlessly, collaborate effectively, and always recover from mistakes.

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Xgare Technologies