In Git, staging changes is a critical step that allows you to prepare specific modifications for the next commit. Viewing these staged changes helps ensure accuracy and precision in your commits. This article details various methods to display staged changes in Git.

What Does “Staged” Mean in Git?

In Git, staging refers to the process of preparing changes for a commit. When you modify files in your working directory, these changes are initially untracked by Git. To include these changes in the next commit, you must add them to the staging area. The staging area acts as a buffer between the working directory and the repository. Only the changes in the staging area will be included in the next commit.

How to Stage Changes

Staging changes in Git involves using the git add command. This command adds the specified changes to the staging area, preparing them for the next commit.

Using git diff –cached or git diff –staged

The git diff –cached (or git diff –staged) command shows the difference between the changes that have been staged and the last commit. This approach is highly useful for checking the exact modifications that are ready to be committed.

Syntax:

git diff --cached

or

git diff --staged

Example: This example demonstrates how to stage changes and then view those staged changes using the git diff –cached command.

How to show the changes which have been staged?

Using git status

The git status command provides an overview of the state of your working directory and staging area. While it doesn’t show detailed differences, it lists the files that are staged and ready for commit.

Syntax:

git status

Example: This example shows how to stage changes and then use the git status command to see which files have been staged.

How to show the changes which have been staged?

Benefits of Reviewing Staged Changes

• Accuracy: Ensures that only the intended changes are included in the commit.
• Clarity: Provides a clear view of what modifications are being made, helping to maintain a clean project history.
• Error Prevention: Helps to catch any accidental changes or errors before they are committed.
• Collaboration: Facilitates better collaboration by providing a transparent view of changes to team members.