Git & GitHub · Chapter 6 of 42
git add
The `git add` command stages changes so they will be included in your next commit. You can stage a single file, multiple files, or all changed files at once.
Staging is a required step before committing — Git will not commit changes that haven't been added to the staging area, even if the file was modified.
Syntax
git add <file>
git add .
git add -AStaging specific files
Run `git add filename` to stage one file, or list multiple filenames separated by spaces to stage several at once.
Staging everything
Run `git add .` to stage all changes in the current directory and subdirectories, or `git add -A` to stage all changes in the entire repository, including deletions.
Example 1 (bash)
git add app.jsStages the single file app.js for the next commit.
Example 2 (bash)
git add .Stages all modified and new files in the current directory and below.
Key points
- git add stages a file so it can be committed.
- You can stage single files, multiple files, or all files.
- git add . stages everything in the current directory.
- Files must be staged before git commit will include them.
💡 Note: Use `git add -p` to interactively stage only parts of a file's changes, useful for splitting a large edit into multiple commits.