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Git reset

Git reset is a command used to reset the current HEAD to a specified state, effectively moving the branch pointer to a different commit^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].

Common Use Cases

The git reset command is versatile and serves several purposes in workflow management:

  • Reverting to a clean state: To discard all local modifications and return the working directory to the state of the most recent commit^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].
  • Undoing commits: To move the branch pointer backwards to a previous commit ID^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].
  • Canceling merges: To abort a merge operation and return to the state before the merge began^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].
  • Aligning with remote: To force the local repository to match a remote branch exactly^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].

Modes of Operation

The behavior of git reset changes based on the flags used, determining how the working directory and staging area are affected.

Hard Reset

The --hard flag performs a complete reset. It resets the index (staging area) and the working directory to match the specified commit. All changes since that commit are permanently discarded^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].

This is commonly used for: * Cleaning a messy directory: git reset --hard^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md]. * Resetting to a specific previous version: git reset --hard [commit_id]^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md]. * Forcefully syncing with a remote branch: git reset --hard origin/master^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md]. * Aborting a merge: git reset --hard ORIG_HEAD^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].

Soft Reset

The --soft flag resets the HEAD pointer but preserves all changes in the working directory and the staging area. This is useful for undoing a commit while keeping the work ready to be re-committed^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md].

For example, to cancel the last commit but retain the modified files: 

git reset HEAD^ --soft

Sources

^[600-developer-tools-git-git-command.md]