Important Git Commands

1. What does git init do?

Creates a new local Git repository in the current folder.

git init

It creates the hidden .git folder that stores Git history and metadata.

Interview Answer: git init initializes an existing/new folder as a Git repository.

2. What does git clone do?

Creates a local copy of an existing remote repository, including its history.

git clone https://github.com/user/project.git

Interview Answer: git clone downloads a remote repository and creates a local working copy.

3. What does git status do?

Shows the current state of the working directory and staging area.

git status

It shows:

• Modified files
• Staged files
• Untracked files

Interview Answer: git status tells us which files are modified, staged, or untracked.

4. What does git add do?

Moves changes from the Working Directory → Staging Area.

git add Program.cs

Or:

git add .

Interview Answer: git add stages changes so they can be included in the next commit.

5. What does git commit do?

Saves the staged changes as a snapshot in the local repository.

git commit -m "Added login feature"

Staging Area → Local Repository

Interview Answer: git commit permanently records staged changes in the local Git history.

6. What does git push do?

Sends local commits to a remote repository.

git push origin main

Local Repository → Remote Repository

Interview Answer: git push uploads local commits to a remote repository such as GitHub or Azure Repos.

7. What does git pull do?

Gets changes from the remote repository and integrates them into the current branch.

git pull origin main

Conceptually:

git pull = fetch + integrate

Usually the integration is a merge, depending on configuration/options.

Interview Answer: git pull retrieves remote changes and integrates them into the current local branch.

8. What does git fetch do?

Downloads the latest remote commits and references without integrating them into your current branch.

git fetch origin

This allows you to inspect remote changes before integrating them.

fetch vs pull

fetch → Download only
pull  → Download + Integrate

Interview Answer: git fetch retrieves remote changes without automatically changing my current branch.

9. What does git log do?

Displays the commit history.

git log

Short format:

git log --oneline

Example:

a12bc34 Added login
b45de67 Added authentication
c78fg90 Initial commit

Interview Answer: git log is used to view commit history, including commit hashes, authors, dates, and messages.

10. What does git diff do?

Shows the differences between versions of files.

git diff

By default, it shows unstaged changes compared with the index.

To see staged changes:

git diff --staged

Interview Answer: git diff helps us inspect code changes before committing them.

11. What does git remote do?

Manages connections to remote repositories.

git remote -v

Typical output:

origin  https://github.com/user/project.git

Add a remote:

git remote add origin <repository-url>

Interview Answer: git remote is used to view and manage remote repository connections.

12. What does git checkout do?

git checkout is an older multi-purpose command commonly used to switch branches or restore files.

Switch branch:

git checkout main

Create and switch:

git checkout -b feature/login

Modern Git provides clearer commands such as git switch and git restore.

Interview Answer: git checkout can switch branches and restore files, although modern Git provides switch and restore for these purposes.

13. What does git switch do?

Used specifically to switch branches.

git switch main

Create and switch to a new branch:

git switch -c feature/login

Interview Answer: git switch is the modern command specifically designed for switching or creating branches.

14. What does git restore do?

Used to restore file content or discard certain changes.

For example, discard an unstaged change:

git restore Program.cs

Unstage a file:

git restore --staged Program.cs

Interview Answer: git restore is used to restore files or remove changes from the staging area.

15. git add . vs git add <file>

git add .

Stages applicable changes under the current directory:

git add .

Useful when you want to stage multiple changed files.

git add <file>

Stages only the specified file:

git add Program.cs

Difference

Interview Answer: git add . stages changes under the current directory, while git add <file> stages only a specific file. I prefer staging specific files when I want precise control over what goes into a commit.

Quick Revision

init     → Create repository
clone    → Copy remote repository
status   → Check status
add      → Stage changes
commit   → Save locally
push     → Local → Remote
pull     → Fetch + Integrate
fetch    → Download remote changes
log      → View commit history
diff     → View differences
remote   → Manage remote repositories
checkout → Older multi-purpose switch/restore
switch   → Switch branches
restore  → Restore files

cd MyProject
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

git clone https://github.com/user/MyProject.git
cd MyProject

New local project
      ↓
   git init

Existing remote repository
      ↓
   git clone
      ↓
Local copy of repository