Version control with Git gives developers the flexibility to explore, experiment, and fix mistakes by rolling back changes when needed. Reverting or resetting a file to a specific revision is one such capability, allowing you to restore the state of a file as it existed in a past commit.
In this guide, we’ll explore several methods to reset or revert a file to a specific revision and discuss the scenarios in which you might use each method.
Key Concepts
Before proceeding, it’s important to understand the following:
- Reset: Changes the state of the file in your working directory to match a previous commit. The change will not generate a new commit.
- Revert: Creates a new commit that undoes changes made to a file in a specific commit.
- Checkout: Temporarily switches the working directory to a specific commit, branch, or file version.
Scenario 1: Resetting a File to a Specific Commit
To reset a file to its state in a specific commit:
- Identify the commit hash:
git log
Copy the hash of the commit you want to reset the file to.
2. Use git restore (recommended for Git 2.23+):
git restore –source=<commit-hash> <file-path>
Example:
This resets file.txt to its state in the specified commit.
3. Stage the changes (if necessary):
git add <file-path>
4. Commit the changes:
Scenario 2: Reverting Changes with a New Commit
If you want to revert a file and record the change as a new commit:
- Identify the commit hash:
git log
2. Use git checkout to reset the file temporarily:
git checkout <commit-hash> — <file-path>
3. Commit the reverted file:
git commit -m “Reverted file to revision abc123”
Scenario 3: Resetting the File Without Committing
If you need to reset the file but don’t want to create a new commit immediately:
- Use the
git restorecommand to reset the working directory:
git restore –source=<commit-hash> <file-path>
2. The file will now match its state in the specified commit, but the changes will not yet be committed.
Scenario 4: Reverting a File to the Previous Commit
If you simply want to undo the latest changes and reset a file to the state of the previous commit:
- Use
git restore:
git restore –staged <file-path>
git restore <file-path>
2. This will remove any uncommitted changes and reset the file to match the last committed state.
Scenario 5: Resetting All Files to a Specific Commit
If you want to reset the entire repository, including all files:
- Use
git reset:Warning: This command discards all changes since the specified commit and cannot be undone unless backed up.
When to Use Which Command
| Command | Use Case |
|---|---|
git restore |
Safely reset a file to a specific revision in your working directory. |
git checkout |
Temporarily view or reset a file to a specific commit. |
git reset --hard |
Discard all changes and reset the repository to a specific commit. |
git revert |
Undo a commit with a new commit. |
Best Practices
- Backup Important Changes: Before resetting or reverting, ensure uncommitted changes are backed up, especially when using destructive commands like
git reset --hard. - Understand History: Use
git logor GUI tools to understand the commit history and confirm the revision you want to reset to. - Communicate in Shared Repositories: If working on a shared branch, communicate with your team before rewriting history.
- Use Descriptive Commit Messages: When reverting changes, document why the file was reverted in the commit message.
Resetting or reverting a file to a specific revision in Git is a powerful way to manage and correct changes. Whether you choose to reset, restore, or revert depends on the context of your workflow and the desired outcome. By mastering these commands and understanding their implications, you can confidently manage your repository’s state and history.