What are the git areas?
Git is a well-known and widely used distributed version control system. It keeps track of changes and performs numerous other functions, such as adding, deleting, merging, and updating, etc. Adding, deleting, or modifying files in a repository requires step-by-step procedures using git commands.
Each Git operation moves the state to a specific area. This tutorial will discuss the various git areas and their associated meanings.
What are the working areas in Git?
Using git commands, changes move from one area to another. The ultimate goal is to have all of them in the remote repository. We will describe all areas and the commands those propagating changes from one area to another. There are three areas in Git’s workflow.
- Working Tree
- Stagging
- Repository
Git area Working Tree:
This is the location where files are modified, added, or deleted. The working area is the directory on the computer where you clone the repository to start fixing bugs, adding new features, etc. Git does not maintain a history of code changes in the working area only, but not in the repository. If you delete files by mistake, the changes are irreversible.
How can you determine what is in the working area? The git status command shows what has been modified or added since you cloned it.
Git area Stagging:
This is the location of the next commit’s changes. The command to add a file to the staging area is git add. You can either stage all modified files or just specific ones. Because the staging area is cleared following a commit, it is a temporary stage.
Git area Repository:
This is the primary code line, which contains all permanent modifications. Changes made after a commit are visible in the local repository. It maintains a complete history of commits and other actions. To commit all changes to the remote repository, use the git push command.
