reference-git-commands.md

Git Commands

Overview

This reference document contains the following information for beginner Git users:

• Commands to navigate directories and files

• Commands to create directories and files

• Commands to configure Git

• Commands to perform Git workflow actions

Commands to navigate directories and files

You can use the following commands to navigate directories (folders) or files on your local computer.

Command	Description
cd ..	Takes you to a directory above the one you're currently using.
cd <directory_name>	Lets you enter and open a directory. If you enter only cd or cd ~, you'll be directed back to your Home folder.
cd -	Takes you to the directory you were in before.
pwd	Shows your current file path.
pwd -p	Shows the full file path you're currently using.
ls	Lists all the files in a directory.
ls -a	Lists all files and hidden files in a directory.
ls -l	Lists all directories in a directory.

Commands to create and rename files and directories

The following table describes the commands for creating new files and directories on your local computer.

Command	Description
git mv <old_filename> <new_filename>	Renames files. Example: git mv hello_world.md hello_universe.md
mkdir <directory_name>	Creates an empty directory. Example: mkdir new_folder
touch <filename.extension>	Creates an empty file. Example: touch hello_world.md

Commands to configure Git

The following table describes the commands for configuring a Git environment for your repositories on your local computer.

Note: To learn how to configure Git, see Customizing Git - Git Configuration.

Command	Description
git config --global user.name "<username>"	Sets your Git username.
git config --global user.email "<email>"	Sets your Git email address.

Commands to perform Git workflow actions

The following table describes the commands for performing actions that are part of the Git workflow.

Command	Description
git clone	Clones a repository to your local computer. You can use either an HTTPS or SSH URL to clone a repository. Example: git clone https://github.com/uidaholib/gitworkshop.git
git status	Shows the current state of your repository and staging area.
git log	Lists all recent activities.
git add .	Stages your files after applying and saving changes. The git add . command tells Git that you've made changes to a file and that you would like Git to track the file.
git commit -m "<message>"	Saves or takes a "snapshot" of the changes you've made to a file. Use this command after staging the file (add .). Within the quotation marks, you can enter a message that describes the changes you're committing.
git push	Pushes the changes you've made in your local repository to your remote (GitHub.com) repository.
git push origin main	Pushes changes from a different branch to the main branch.
git pull	Updates your local repository by pulling and merging updates from your remote repository.
git fetch	Shows the changes made in your remote repository. It does not merge any changes with your local repository.
git remote -v	Lists the URL of your remote repository in your terminal. The word origin will appear at the start of your remote connection or remote repository's URL. Origin is the default and convention for the remote repository.
git init <directory>	Creates a new Git repository or can convert an existing local and unversioned directory into a Git repository. To convert a directory into a Git repository, open the directory using cd and enter git init.
git branch --all	Lists all the branches within your repository.
git checkout <branch_name>	Switches you to a different branch.
git checkout -b <branch-name>	Creates a new branch and switches to it at the same time.
git switch <branch_name>	Switches you to a different branch. (Git v2.23+)
git switch -c <branch-name>	Creates a new branch and switches to it at the same time. (Git v2.23+)
git branch -d -r origin/feature/<branch>	Deletes a local branch.
git fetch add upstream <link>	Adds the upstream to your forked (copied) repository, allowing you to push changes to the original repository. When adding the upstream, make sure to use the HTTPS or SSH link (whichever one you chose for cloning the forked repository to your local computer).
git fetch upstream main	Pulls any updates from the main branch of the forked repository to your local copy.