How do I undo 'git add' before commit?

How Do I Undo 'git add' Before Commit?

If you've added files to the staging area using git add but want to undo this action before committing, you can use the git reset command. This will unstage the files, moving them back to the working directory without making any changes to the files themselves.

Steps to Unstage Files

Unstage All Files

To unstage all files that have been added to the staging area:

git reset

Unstage a Specific File

To unstage a specific file that has been added to the staging area:

git reset <file>

Example:

git reset myfile.txt

Example Workflow

1. Stage the Files:

   git add myfile.txt anotherfile.txt

2. Check the Status:

   git status

   Output:

   Changes to be committed:
     (use "git restore --staged <file>..." to unstage)
           new file:   myfile.txt
           new file:   anotherfile.txt
   

3. Unstage All Files:

   git reset

4. Unstage a Specific File:

   git reset myfile.txt

5. Verify the Status Again:

   git status

   Output:

   Changes not staged for commit:
     (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
     (use "git restore <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
           modified:   myfile.txt
           modified:   anotherfile.txt
   

Using git restore (Git 2.23+)

In Git 2.23 and later, you can also use the git restore command to unstage files.

Unstage All Files

git restore --staged .

Unstage a Specific File

git restore --staged <file>

Example:

git restore --staged myfile.txt

Summary

To undo git add before committing, you can use the git reset command to unstage the files. If you're using Git 2.23 or later, you can also use the git restore --staged command. Here are the commands for quick reference:

• Unstage all files:

  git reset

  or

  git restore --staged .

• Unstage a specific file:

  git reset <file>

  or

  git restore --staged <file>

By following these steps, you can easily undo the git add command before committing, ensuring that only the desired changes are staged. For more in-depth knowledge and practical examples of Git and other coding practices, consider exploring Grokking the Coding Interview on DesignGurus.io, which provides comprehensive courses on essential coding and interview techniques.