stash.md

In Git, the git stash command is used to temporarily save changes that you have not committed to a separate area, allowing you to switch branches, apply changes, and then return to your original branch. This can be useful when you are in the middle of working on a feature or bug fix but need to switch to another branch to address an urgent issue or work on a different task.

Here's how to use git stash:

Stashing Changes

To stash your changes, you can use:

git stash

to stash specific file

git stash -- filename.txt

This command will save your changes, including both staged and unstaged modifications, in a new stash. The working directory will then be reverted to the state of the last commit.

Stashing Changes with a Message

You can add a message to the stash to provide more context about the changes:

git stash save "Your stash message here"

Viewing Stash List

To view a list of your stashes, you can use:

git stash list

This will display a list of stashes, each with a unique identifier (stash@{n}) and the message you provided (if any).

Applying Stashed Changes

To apply the changes from the most recent stash, you can use:

git stash apply

This will apply the changes to your working directory, but the changes will still be in the stash. If you want to remove the stash after applying, you can use:

git stash pop

Applying Changes from a Specific Stash

If you have multiple stashes and want to apply changes from a specific stash, you can use:

git stash apply stash@{n}

Replace {n} with the index of the stash you want to apply.

Creating a Branch from a Stash

You can create a new branch and apply changes from a stash in one step:

git stash branch new_branch_name

This will create a new branch named new_branch_name and apply the changes from the most recent stash to the new branch.

Dropping a Stash

To remove a stash without applying the changes, you can use:

git stash drop stash@{n}

This removes the specified stash from the list.

Clearing All Stashes

To remove all stashes, you can use:

git stash clear

Remember that stashing is a powerful tool, but it's essential to use it judiciously. Always commit your changes when possible to have a clean history, and use git stash when you need a quick way to switch contexts without committing incomplete work.