LinuxCommandLibrary

git-reset-file

Restore tracked file's content from index

TLDR

Reset a file to HEAD

$ git reset-file [path/to/file]
copy

Reset a file to a specific commit
$ git reset-file [path/to/file] [commit_hash]
copy

SYNOPSIS

git reset [--patch] file...

PARAMETERS

--patch
    Interactively choose which hunks to unstage.

file...
    The paths to the files to unstage.

DESCRIPTION

The `git reset-file` command unstages changes from a specific file in the working tree, effectively removing it from the staging area (index) without modifying the file itself. It's like undoing a `git add` for a specific file. This command allows you to selectively remove changes before committing them, providing fine-grained control over your staged changes. The command updates the index to match the specified commit (HEAD by default), so if HEAD is the branch, the changes get un-staged but will still exist as changes in the working copy.

CAVEATS

This command operates on the index (staging area). It doesn't modify the working directory's content. If you want to revert the working copy, you'll need to use other commands such as `git checkout` or `git restore`.
It is important to ensure that you are in a git repository. If you are not git will not acknowledge this command is even a valid one

USE CASES

Commonly used before a `git commit` to remove accidentally staged changes or to split large changes into smaller, more manageable commits. It enables you to refine the changes included in your next commit.

EXAMPLES

Unstage a single file:
`git reset HEAD file.txt`

Unstage multiple files:
`git reset HEAD file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt`

HISTORY

The `git reset-file` functionality was introduced as part of the broader `git reset` command and separated to improve usability. The separate function allows for the selective un-staging of files without affecting the whole project index. It is commonly used when preparing commits with staged and unstaged changes and you decide to commit only a subset of staged changes.

SEE ALSO

git add(1), git reset(1), git checkout(1), git restore(1), git rm(1)

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