Notes|git stash vs git add
Here’s a detailed comparison of git stash vs git add (or, more conceptually, staging area vs working area). Both commands play essential roles in Git workflows but serve different purposes.
Concepts of Staging Area and Working Area
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Working Area | Your current working directory, where files are created, edited, or deleted. |
| Staging Area | A “pre-commit” zone where you add changes you want to include in the next commit. |
git stash vs git add
| Aspect | git stash | git add |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Temporarily saves uncommitted changes and clears the working area for other tasks. | Stages specific changes to prepare them for committing. |
| Scope | Applies to all changes (tracked and untracked files) unless specified. | Operates only on files you explicitly add. |
| Workflow Role | Used for multitasking or when you need a clean working directory without losing progress. | A step in the process of making a commit. |
| Visibility | Stashed changes are saved in a separate stash stack, not immediately visible in the working or staging area. | Staged changes are visible in the staging area and listed under “Changes to be committed” in git status. |
| Temporary vs Permanent | Temporary: Changes can be restored later (git stash apply or git stash pop). | Part of the commit process: Staging is permanent until committed or reset. |
| Command Example | git stash save "WIP message" | git add file1.txt |
| Multiple Use | Supports multiple stashes stored in a stack (e.g., git stash list). | Staging doesn’t support “versions” — it works on the current state of your files. |
| Clean Working Area | Clears the working area after stashing. | Does not affect the working area. Changes remain visible in your files. |
| Reapplying Changes | Can restore changes (git stash apply or git stash pop) when you’re ready to continue work. | Staging changes does not “remove” them; they are ready for the next commit. |
| Collaboration | Useful when you need to pull changes from the remote branch but have unfinished local work. | Not relevant to multitasking but vital for organizing changes into logical commits. |
| Resetting Changes | Stashes can be dropped (git stash drop) or cleared (git stash clear). | Staged changes can be reset to the working area using git reset. |
How git stash Relates to Staging and Working Areas
git stashinteracts with both the working area and staging area:- If you’ve staged files,
git stashsaves both staged and unstaged changes by default. - It clears the working area (and optionally the staging area), creating a clean slate.
- If you’ve staged files,
Differences in Operation:
- Stashing is like “parking” your changes outside the normal workflow.
- Staging is an integral part of the commit process.
Workflow Use Cases
| Scenario | Recommended Command | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| You’re working on a feature but need to switch to another branch to fix a bug. | git stash | Temporarily saves your progress to let you switch branches without committing incomplete work. |
| You’ve finished a feature and want to organize changes for a commit. | git add | Prepares changes for a commit, enabling granular control over what gets committed. |
| You’re experimenting with some changes but want to pull updates from the remote branch. | git stash | Allows you to pull changes into a clean working directory and restore your work afterward. |
| You’ve edited several files and only want to commit some of them. | git add [files] | Staging lets you selectively commit changes. |
| You’ve stashed multiple times and need to review the changes before reapplying them. | git stash list and git stash apply | Lets you see all stashed changes and selectively reapply them. |
Visual Comparison of Areas in Git
Workflow with Staging (git add):
- Working Area: Your edits are made here.
- Staging Area: Use
git addto prepare specific files or changes. - Commit: Use
git committo finalize changes and save them to the repository.
Workflow with Stashing (git stash):
- Working Area: Your edits are made here.
- Stash Stack: Use
git stashto temporarily save all (or selected) changes and clean the working directory. - Reapply or Discard: Use
git stash applyto restore changes, orgit stash dropto discard them.
When to Choose One Over the Other
- Use
git stashwhen:- You need to switch tasks or branches.
- You’re not ready to commit but need a clean working directory.
- Use
git addwhen:- You’re preparing specific changes for a commit.
- You’re finalizing work to save it permanently.
Summary
git stash is like a temporary “storage locker” for incomplete work, while git add moves files to the staging area for the final step before committing. Both tools help manage the lifecycle of changes effectively but serve distinct purposes.