What Is the Purpose of the Git Stash Command?

The git stash command is a powerful tool in Git that allows developers to temporarily save changes in their working directory without committing them. This is particularly useful when you need to switch branches or work on something else, but aren’t ready to commit your current changes.

Why Use Git Stash?

There are several scenarios where using git stash can be beneficial:

  • Switching Branches: If you need to switch to another branch to work on a critical bug fix, but you’re not ready to commit your current changes, you can stash them and apply them later.
  • Experimenting Safely: Stash allows you to experiment with changes without cluttering your commit history. You can stash experimental changes and revert to the original state easily.
  • Code Review and Testing: Before pushing code for a review or testing, you might want to stash any incomplete work that isn’t ready for others to see.

How to Use Git Stash

The basic usage of git stash is simple:

Stashing Changes

To stash your changes, run:

git stash

This command saves your modified tracked files and staged changes to a stack of stashes and reverts your working directory to the state of the last commit.

Listing Stashes

To see a list of all stashed changes, use:

git stash list

This will display all stashes, with each stash assigned an index (starting from 0).

Applying Stashed Changes

To reapply the most recent stash, use:

git stash apply

If you want to apply a specific stash from the list, specify the stash index:

git stash apply stash@{index}

Dropping Stashes

After you’ve applied or no longer need a stash, you can remove it from the list with:

git stash drop stash@{index}

To drop all stashes at once, use:

git stash clear

Creating a Named Stash

You can create a named stash to easily identify its purpose later:

git stash push -m "stash name"

Best Practices for Using Git Stash

Here are some tips for effectively using git stash:

  • Use Descriptive Names: When creating stashes, use descriptive names to make it easier to remember what each stash contains.
  • Stash Frequently: Regularly stash your work to prevent losing changes if you need to switch tasks unexpectedly.
  • Be Cautious with Untracked Files: By default, git stash does not include untracked files. Use the -u option if you need to stash untracked files as well.

Conclusion

The git stash command is an invaluable tool for managing changes in Git, allowing you to temporarily set aside work and return to it later. By understanding how to use stash effectively, you can maintain a smooth workflow and keep your commit history clean.