Posted inDevOps

Essential Git Commands Cheat Sheet – Complete Guide

December 8, 2025Posted inDevOps
Essential Git Commands Cheat Sheet – Complete Guide
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Git is one of the most important tools for developers, helping you track changes, collaborate with teams, and manage code efficiently. If you’re new to Git, learning its commands can feel overwhelming — but don’t worry.

Git is one of the most important tools for developers, helping you track changes, collaborate with teams, and manage code efficiently. If you're new to Git, learning its commands can feel overwhelming — but don’t worry.

This guide breaks down all the essential Git commands into simple categories such as General Tools, Staging/Commit, Branching, Remote, Debugging, and Stash Management. Each command is explained in plain English so you can learn faster and code confidently.

🔧 1. General Git Tools

These are the most commonly used Git commands for setting up projects and managing basic operations.

CommandDescription
git initInitialize a new Git repository
git clone <repo>Clone a remote repository to your local system
git statusCheck the status of files and the current branch
git logView commit history
git branchList all branches
git checkout <b>Switch branches
git merge <b>Merge a branch into the current branch
git stashTemporarily save uncommitted changes
git stash popApply stashed changes back to your working directory

✅ 2. Basic Build (Staging & Commit)

These commands help you stage changes, commit them, and push them to the remote repo.

CommandDescription
git add <file>Stage a specific file
git add .Stage all changes
git commit -m “message”Commit staged changes with a message
git pushPush commits to a remote repository
git pullFetch + merge updates from remote

🔍 3. Info & Debug

These commands are useful for viewing, comparing, and debugging changes.

CommandDescription
git diffView unstaged changes
git diff –stagedView staged changes
git showShow details of a commit
git tagList tags
git blame <file>Show who made changes line-by-line

🌐 4. Remote Repository Commands

These commands help you connect your local repo with remote servers like GitHub or GitLab.

CommandDescription
git remoteList remote repositories
git remote add origin <URL>Add a remote URL
git remote -vShow remote URLs
git push -u origin <branch>Push and set upstream branch
git fetchDownload remote changes without merging

🌿 5. Branching Commands

Branches allow you to work on new features without touching the main code.

CommandDescription
git branch <name>Create a new branch
git checkout -b <name>Create + switch to a new branch
git switch <branch>Switch branches
git branch -d <branch>Delete a branch
git merge <branch>Merge a branch into the current one

🧹 6. Objects & Cleanup

These commands help you clean your repository and remove unnecessary files.

CommandDescription
git clean -fRemove untracked files
git gcClean up unnecessary files & optimize repo
git fsckVerify integrity of the repository

🗂️ 7. Stash Management

Stashing helps you save your incomplete work temporarily without committing it.

CommandDescription
git stashSave your changes
git stash listView saved stashes
git stash applyApply stash without deleting it
git stash popApply + delete stash
git stash dropDelete a specific stash

⭐ Final Thoughts

This Git commands cheat sheet is perfect for beginners, students, and even experienced developers who need quick reminders while working on projects. Git may look complex at first, but once you understand these commands, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your development workflow.

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