Version control systems are certainly one of the most popular tools used by developers. It allows a group of developers to work on the same project simultaneously without worrying about the changes or conflicts they made. Git is a famous version control system that provides an efficient means to track the changes in source code history. Git stash is used to save the changes that are not committed yet, and it can be used for lots of purposes, like switching branches, working on a higher priority task, debugging, and others.
However, the Git stash can be challenging to manage for beginners. Sometimes they create a stash but later realize that the changes they made have unwanted side effects and want to undo the stash. In this article, we will discuss how to undo a Git stash with code examples.
What is Git Stash?
Before we jump into how to undo a Git stash, let's first understand what Git stash is and how it works. Git stash is a command that allows a developer to save or stash the changes that are not committed yet. Once the changes are stashed, they are no longer part of the working directory, and the working directory becomes clean.
The Git stash command takes the current state of the working directory (including staged changes) and stores it on a separate stack of unfinished changes. When a developer is ready to continue working on that feature or bug fix, they can unstash their changes and continue working from where they left off.
The syntax for creating a Git stash is:
git stash save "stash_name"
To list all the stashes, use the following command:
git stash list
To apply the most recent stash, use the following command:
git stash apply
Now that we've refreshed our memory about Git stash let's discuss how to undo a Git stash.
How to Undo a Git Stash?
There are two ways to undo a Git stash:
- Revert the changes made by the stash without deleting the stash.
- Delete the stash altogether and discard the changes made by the stash.
Let's discuss both methods step by step.
Method 1: Revert the Changes Made by the Stash Without Deleting the Stash
This method involves reverting the changes made by the stash without deleting the stash itself. Here are the steps to revert the stash:
Step 1: List All the Stashes
The first step is to list all the stashes to identify the stash that needs to be reverted.
git stash list
Step 2: Revert the Stash
The second step is to revert the stash. To revert the changes made by the most recent stash, use the following command:
git stash show -p | git apply -R
This command will reverse the patch introduced by the most recent stash, effectively undoing the changes made by the stash.
Step 3: Check the Working Directory
After reverting the stash, we should check to make sure the working directory is clean. To do that, run the following command:
git status
If the output shows that the working directory is clean, the stash was successfully reverted.
Method 2: Delete the Stash and Discard the Changes Made by the Stash
This method involves deleting the stash and discarding the changes made by the stash altogether. Here are the steps to delete the stash:
Step 1: List All the Stashes
The first step is to list all the stashes to identify the stash that needs to be deleted.
git stash list
Step 2: Delete the Stash
The second step is to delete the stash. To delete the most recent stash, use the following command:
git stash drop
This command will delete the most recent stash. If you want to delete a specific stash, use the following command:
git stash drop stash@{number}
Replace "number" with the index of the stash you want to delete.
Step 3: Check the Working Directory
After deleting the stash, we should check to make sure the working directory is clean. To do that, run the following command:
git status
If the output shows that the working directory is clean, the stash was successfully deleted.
Conclusion
Git stash is an essential command used by developers to save changes temporarily. However, sometimes, they need to undo a stash if the changes made by the stash have unwanted side effects. In this article, we discussed two methods to undo a Git stash with code examples: reverting the changes made by the stash without deleting the stash and deleting the stash and discarding the changes made by the stash. Using these methods, developers can easily manage their Git stashes and work more efficiently on their projects.
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Popular questions
Sure, here are five questions and answers related to how to undo a Git stash with code examples:
-
What is Git stash used for?
Answer: Git stash is used to temporarily save the changes made to a repository without committing them. It allows developers to switch to another branch or work on a different feature without committing unfinished changes. -
What is the syntax for creating a Git stash?
Answer: The syntax for creating a Git stash is:
git stash save "stash_name"
- How can I list all the stashes in Git?
Answer: To list all the stashes in Git, use the command:
git stash list
This will show a list of all the stashes with their index numbers, descriptions, and creation time.
- How can I revert the changes made by a Git stash without deleting the stash itself?
Answer: To revert the changes made by a Git stash without deleting the stash itself, use the command:
git stash show -p | git apply -R
This command will reverse the patch introduced by the most recent stash, effectively undoing the changes made by the stash.
- How can I delete a Git stash and discard the changes made by it?
Answer: To delete a Git stash and discard the changes made by it, use the command:
git stash drop
This command will delete the most recent stash. If you want to delete a specific stash, use the command:
git stash drop stash@{number}
Replace "number" with the index of the stash you want to delete.
Tag
'Unstashing'
