Git Stash Commands
Overview
The git stash command temporarily shelves (or stashes) changes you've made to your working directory so you can work on something else and then come back and re-apply them later. This is useful when you want to switch branches but aren't ready to commit your current work.
Basic Stashing
git stash
Saves your local modifications away and reverts the working directory to match the HEAD commit.
Example
This command stashes your changes, allowing you to work from a clean state.
git stash save "message"
Saves your local modifications with a custom message.
Example
This command stashes your changes with the message "WIP: working on feature".
Listing Stashes
git stash list
Shows the list of stashes you have stored.
Example
$ git stash list
stash@{0}: WIP on main: 4c5b3e7 Add new feature
stash@{1}: WIP on main: 1a2b3c4 Fix bug
This command lists all stashes, showing their index, message, and commit reference.
Applying Stashes
git stash apply
Applies the changes from a stash to your working directory without removing it from the stash list.
Example
This command applies the changes from stash@{0} to your working directory.
git stash pop
Applies the changes from a stash to your working directory and removes it from the stash list.
Example
This command applies the changes from stash@{0} to your working directory and removes it from the stash list.
Creating a Branch from a Stash
git stash branch
Creates and checks out a new branch starting from the commit at which the stash was originally created, then applies the changes from the stash and drops it.
Example
This command creates a new branch new-feature-branch starting from the commit at which stash@{0} was created, applies the stash, and removes it from the stash list.
Dropping Stashes
git stash drop
Removes a single stash from the stash list.
Example
This command removes stash@{0} from the stash list.
git stash clear
Removes all stashes from the stash list.
Example
This command clears all stashes from the stash list.
Stashing Untracked or Ignored Files
git stash -u
Includes untracked files in the stash.
Example
This command stashes your changes, including untracked files.
git stash -a
Includes all untracked and ignored files in the stash.
Example
This command stashes your changes, including all untracked and ignored files.
Summary
The git stash command is a powerful tool for temporarily setting aside changes in your working directory. It allows you to switch branches and work on something else without losing your current work. For more detailed information on each command, refer to the official Git documentation.