Updated on December 10, 2024

git checkout <file>

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The git checkout <file> command is used to discard changes in your working directory and restore a file to its state from the last commit or from a specified commit. It’s useful when you want to undo modifications and revert to the last committed version of a file.

Optional Commands with git checkout

You can enhance the functionality of git checkout <file> by using the following optional flags:

OptionDescriptionExample
git checkout <file>Discards changes in the specified file and restores it to the last commit state.git checkout example.txt restores example.txt to the last committed state.
git checkout -- <file>Same as git checkout <file>, but the -- is used to avoid ambiguity with branches or commits.git checkout -- example.txt restores example.txt to the last commit.

Syntax and Example

				
					# Restore a specific file to the last committed state
git checkout example.txt
# Example output:
# (No output if successful, but `example.txt` is restored to the last committed state.)

# Restore multiple files
git checkout file1.txt file2.txt
# Example output:
# (No output if successful, but `file1.txt` and `file2.txt` are restored to the last committed state.)

# Use `--` to specify a file more clearly (avoiding ambiguity)
git checkout -- example.txt
# Example output:
# (No output if successful, but `example.txt` is restored to the last committed state.)

Why Use git checkout <file>?

  • Discard Unwanted Changes: If you made changes to a file and want to undo them, git checkout <file> helps you discard those modifications and revert the file to its state in the last commit.
  • Restore Specific Files: It allows you to restore only specific files without affecting the rest of the working directory.

Conclusion

The git checkout <file> command is useful for discarding changes in a file and reverting it to the last committed state. It helps manage files that are no longer needed or require restoration, providing control over your working directory.

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