What's the difference between git reset --mixed, --soft, and --hard?

on

 

In Git, git reset is a powerful command used to move the HEAD and update the index and working directory to a specific state. It can be used with different options, such as --mixed, --soft, and --hard, to achieve different outcomes. Here's an explanation of each option along with examples:

  1. git reset --mixed:

    • This is the default mode when no option is specified.
    • It moves the HEAD and updates the index (staging area) to the specified commit while leaving the working directory unchanged.
    • Changes in the working directory are not lost but are uncommitted and will appear as modified.
    bash
  • # Example: Reset to a specific commit in mixed mode
git reset HEAD~3  # Reset to the 3rd commit before HEAD

  • git reset --soft:

    • This mode moves the HEAD to the specified commit and updates the index (staging area) to match the same commit, but it leaves changes in the working directory as they are.
    • It allows you to recommit the same changes or make additional changes before committing.
    bash
  • # Example: Reset to a specific commit in soft mode
git reset --soft HEAD~3  # Reset to the 3rd commit before HEAD

  • git reset --hard:

    • This is the most aggressive mode and moves the HEAD, updates the index, and completely discards any changes in the working directory.
    • It resets everything to the state of the specified commit, including changes that were not committed.
    bash
    1. # Example: Reset to a specific commit in hard mode
git reset --hard HEAD~3  # Reset to the 3rd commit before HEAD

    Here's a visual representation of the differences between these modes:

    sql
        Original Commits         Reset --mixed            Reset --soft            Reset --hard
                          (HEAD and Index)        (HEAD and Index)         (HEAD, Index, and Working Directory)

   Commit 1       <------     Commit 1          <------      Commit 1

   Commit 2       <------     Commit 2          <------      Commit 2

   Commit 3       <------     Commit 3          <------      Commit 3

   Commit 4       <------     Commit 4

   Commit 5                    Commit 5

    In the diagram:

    • "Original Commits" represent the state of the repository with a series of commits.

    • "Reset --mixed" shows that only the HEAD and index are moved to the specified commit (e.g., "Commit 3"), and the working directory retains changes from "Commit 3" but as uncommitted modifications.

    • "Reset --soft" shows that both the HEAD and index are moved to the specified commit, but the working directory remains unchanged with the changes from "Commit 3."

    • "Reset --hard" shows that the HEAD, index, and working directory are all moved to the specified commit, effectively discarding any changes in the working directory.

    Choose the appropriate git reset option based on your needs. Be cautious when using --hard as it can result in data loss if not used carefully. Always make sure to commit or stash any important changes before performing a --hard reset.

    Comments

    Post a Comment