Commit

In Git, commits are used as snapshots of a given branch in a repository. Collectively, they serve as the growth history of all the branches in a Git repository. The most recent commit is considered directly related to the pointer of the current branch.

Syntax

git commit

How Do I Commit?

Step 1: Files Ready

Before using git commit, make sure to have all the necessary files staged for the commit.

git add filename

The git add . command can be used to add all files in the current directory.

Step 2: Commit

After the files are staged for commit, use the following syntax:

git commit

Note: Using the git commit command by itself will open up an editor (usually set to Vim by default), where users will be asked to add a commit message. After writing a message, saving and closing the file (:wq in Vim) will add that message to the current commit.

Here is an example of what the commit message prompt might look like when using git commit:

Add git_practice.js and install dependencies

# Please enter the commit message for your changes. Lines starting
# with '#' will be ignored, and an empty message aborts the commit.
#
# On branch main
# Changes to be committed:
#       new file:   git_practice.js
#       new file:   package-lock.json
#       new file:   package.json

Here is what the command line would look like afterwards:

$ git commit
[main (root-commit) b77d68b] Add git_practice.js and install dependencies
 3 files changed, 26 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 git_practice.js
 create mode 100644 package-lock.json
 create mode 100644 package.json

Using the -m flag like so, git commit -m <message>, adds a commit message without opening up an editor:

$ git commit -m "this is a commit message"
[main (root-commit) b77d68b] this is a commit message
 3 files changed, 26 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 git_practice.js
 create mode 100644 package-lock.json
 create mode 100644 package.json