Git Cheat Sheet

The commands you'll use most, grouped by task, with the lesson that explains each one. Keep this page open while you work until the commands become second nature.

Setup

Command	Does	Lesson
git config --global user.name "Name"	Set the name recorded in your commits	03
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"	Set your commit email	03
git config --global init.defaultBranch main	Name the first branch main	03
git config --global --list	Show your settings	03

Starting a repository

Command	Does	Lesson
git init	Turn the current folder into a repository	05
git clone <url> [folder]	Copy an existing repository	33

Everyday work

Command	Does	Lesson
git status / git status -s	What's changed and staged	07
git add <file> / git add .	Stage changes	08
git add -p	Stage selected parts of files	08
git commit -m "Message"	Commit the staged changes	09
git commit -am "Message"	Stage tracked changes and commit	09
git diff / git diff --staged	Unstaged / staged changes, line by line	12
git log --oneline --graph --all	Compact history of all branches	11
git show <commit>	One commit and its changes	13
git mv old new / git rm file	Rename / delete and stage it	15

Undoing

Command	Does	Lesson
git restore <file>	Discard uncommitted edits (permanent!)	16
git restore --staged <file>	Unstage, keeping the edits	16
git commit --amend	Fix the last (unpushed) commit	17
git reset --soft HEAD~1	Undo the last commit, keep changes staged	18
git reset --hard HEAD~1	Remove the last commit and its changes	18
git revert <commit>	Undo a (pushed) commit with a new commit	19
git reflog	Find "lost" commits	20
git clean -n / -fd	Preview / delete untracked files	21

Branches

Command	Does	Lesson
git branch / git branch -vv	List branches (with upstreams)	22
git switch -c <name>	Create a branch and switch to it	23
git switch <name> / git switch -	Switch branch / back to the previous one	23
git merge <branch>	Merge a branch into the current one	24
git merge --abort	Cancel a conflicted merge	25
git rebase main	Replay the current branch on top of main	26
git rebase -i HEAD~n	Squash, reword, reorder or drop recent commits	27
git cherry-pick <commit>	Copy one commit onto the current branch	28
git stash / git stash pop	Shelve / restore uncommitted work	29
git branch -d <name>	Delete a merged branch	22

Remotes

Command	Does	Lesson
git remote add origin <url>	Connect a remote	30
git remote -v	List remotes	30
git push -u origin <branch>	First push of a branch, setting its upstream	32
git push / git pull	Send / receive commits	32, 34
git fetch --prune	Download without merging; drop deleted branches	35
git pull --rebase	Pull, replaying your commits on top	34
git push --force-with-lease	Overwrite your own remote branch safely	32
git push origin --delete <branch>	Delete a remote branch	35

History and releases

Command	Does	Lesson
git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "…"	Create an annotated tag	39
git push origin --tags	Push tags	39
git grep "text"	Search tracked files	40
git log -S "text"	Commits that added or removed text	40
git blame <file>	Last change to each line	40
git bisect start / good / bad	Binary-search for a bad commit	41

Naming commits

Reference	Means
HEAD	Where you are now
HEAD~1, HEAD~3	One / three commits back
main..feature	Commits on feature not on main
origin/main	The remote's main, as of your last fetch
HEAD@{2}	Where HEAD was two moves ago (reflog)

The golden rules

1. Run git status before and after anything important.
2. Commit small, commit often, write clear messages.
3. Never rewrite history that others have pulled — use revert on shared branches.
4. Never commit secrets; add a .gitignore before the first commit.
5. Committed work is almost never lost — check the reflog before panicking.