Git Command Cheat Sheet: Complete CLI Syntax, Flags & Quick Reference

Bookmark this page! Here is your complete, print-friendly Git CLI Master Cheat Sheet grouping every command, syntax pattern, and essential flag required for daily development, university exams, and emergency production troubleshooting.

1. Setup & Configuration

git config --global user.name "Your Name"       # Set global author name
git config --global user.email "you@email.com"   # Set global email
git config --global init.defaultBranch main      # Default new branch to 'main'
git config --global core.editor "code --wait"    # Use VS Code as editor
git config --global core.autocrlf true           # Windows CRLF line conversion
git config --global pull.rebase true             # Auto-rebase on pull
git config --list --show-origin                  # Inspect active config & origins

2. Starting & Cloning Repositories

git init                                         # Initialize new repo in current dir
git init <project-name>                          # Create folder and init repo
git clone <url>                                  # Clone complete repo with history
git clone --depth 1 <url>                        # Shallow clone latest commit only
git clone --recurse-submodules <url>             # Clone repo and all submodules

3. Staging & Basic Committing

git status                                       # Check working tree & staging state
git status -s                                    # Compact short status output
git add <file>                                   # Stage specific file
git add .                                        # Stage all changes in current folder
git add -A                                       # Stage all changes across entire repo
git add -p <file>                                # Stage individual hunks interactively
git commit -m "feat: message"                    # Commit with inline message
git commit -am "fix: message"                    # Stage tracked files and commit
git commit --amend --no-edit                     # Absorb staged edits into last commit

4. Inspecting History & Differences

git log --oneline                                # Compact single-line commit history
git log --graph --oneline --decorate --all       # ASCII branching tree view
git log -n 5                                     # Show last 5 commits only
git log --author="Name"                          # Filter commits by author
git log -S "query"                               # Pickaxe search: find string changes
git log -L 20,40:app.js                          # Trace line range evolution
git diff                                         # Unstaged diff (working vs index)
git diff --staged                                # Staged diff (index vs HEAD)
git diff branch1..branch2                        # Compare tips of two branches
git blame -L 10,25 app.js                        # Line-by-line author attribution

5. Branching & Navigation

git branch                                       # List local branches
git branch -a                                    # List local + remote-tracking branches
git branch -vv                                   # List branches with upstream tracking info
git branch <branch-name>                         # Create branch without switching
git switch <branch-name>                         # Switch to existing branch
git switch -c <new-branch>                       # Create branch and switch to it
git switch -                                     # Switch to previously checked out branch
git branch -m <new-name>                         # Rename current branch
git branch -d <branch-name>                      # Safe delete merged branch
git branch -D <branch-name>                      # Force delete unmerged branch

6. Merging, Rebasing & Stashing

git merge <branch>                               # Merge branch into current branch
git merge --no-ff <branch>                       # Force merge commit (no fast-forward)
git merge --abort                                # Abort active merge and restore clean state
git rebase <upstream-branch>                     # Replay current branch commits onto base
git rebase -i HEAD~3                             # Interactive rebase (squash, reword, drop)
git rebase --continue                            # Continue rebase after resolving conflict
git rebase --abort                               # Abort active rebase
git stash                                        # Save dirty working changes to stack
git stash -u -m "note"                           # Stash including untracked files
git stash list                                   # View all saved stashes
git stash pop                                    # Apply top stash and delete it
git stash apply stash@{1}                        # Apply specific stash and keep on stack
git stash drop stash@{0}                         # Delete specific stash

7. Remote Synchronization & Tagging

git remote -v                                    # Inspect remote URLs
git remote add origin <url>                      # Add remote origin
git remote set-url origin <url>                  # Change remote URL
git push -u origin main                          # Push and configure upstream tracking
git push                                         # Shorthand push to upstream
git push --force-with-lease                      # Safe force push check
git fetch origin                                 # Download remote changes without merging
git pull                                         # Fetch and merge into active branch
git pull --rebase                                # Fetch and rebase into active branch
git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "Release v1.0.0"            # Create annotated release tag
git push origin v1.0.0                           # Push tag to GitHub
git push origin --tags                           # Push all tags to GitHub

8. Undoing & Emergency Recovery

git restore <file>                               # Discard unstaged edits in file
git restore --staged <file>                      # Unstage file, keeping edits on disk
git clean -df                                    # Delete untracked files & directories
git reset --soft HEAD~1                          # Undo commit; keep files staged
git reset --mixed HEAD~1                         # Undo commit; unstage files (default)
git reset --hard HEAD~1                          # Undo commit; wipe out all edits (danger!)
git revert <commit-hash>                         # Create safe inverse commit
git reflog                                       # View HEAD transition history time machine
git reset --hard HEAD@{2}                        # Restore repo to state 2 steps ago