Committing code is a fundamental part of using Git — it saves a snapshot of your project’s changes to the repository’s history. Whether you’re new to Git or just want a quick refresher, this guide shows you how to commit your code using the command line (CMD) on Windows or any terminal.
What Is a Git Commit?
A commit in Git represents a recorded state of your project. Each commit includes:
- A snapshot of the changed files
- A unique commit ID (hash)
- A commit message describing the changes
Step 1: Open Command Line Interface
On Windows, open Command Prompt (CMD) or Git Bash. On macOS or Linux, open your preferred terminal.
Navigate to your project directory:
cd path/to/your/project
Step 2: Check Git Status
Before committing, check which files have been modified, added, or deleted:
git status
This helps you review your changes before committing.
Step 3: Stage Your Changes
Add the files you want to include in the commit to the staging area.
- To add all changes:
git add .
- To add specific files:
git add filename1 filename2
Step 4: Commit Your Changes
Once files are staged, create a commit with a clear, descriptive message:
git commit -m "Your commit message here"
Example:
git commit -m "Fix bug in user login validation"
Step 5: Verify Your Commit
To confirm your commit was successful, you can view the commit history with:
git log --oneline
This displays recent commits with their messages and IDs.
Summary of Commands
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
git status | Check current changes |
git add . | Stage all changes |
git add filename | Stage specific files |
git commit -m "msg" | Commit staged changes with a message |
git log --oneline | View recent commits |
Final Tips
- Write meaningful commit messages to make your project history easier to understand.
- Stage only the files you want to include in the commit.
- Commit frequently to save your progress incrementally.
