Difference between “Git Add -A” and “Git Add .”
Better Stack Team
Updated on June 24, 2024
The commands git add -A and git add . both add changes in the working directory to the staging area (index), but they differ in the scope of changes they consider.
git add -A
git add -Astages all changes, including modifications, deletions, and additions, in the entire working directory and all its subdirectories.- It's equivalent to
git add --alland ensures that all changes, regardless of their location in the directory tree, are staged for the next commit.
git add .
git add .stages changes in the current directory and all its subdirectories, but it does not include deletions.- It stages modifications and new files, but it does not stage deletions or changes in files that have been removed.
- It's a more conservative option compared to
git add -Aas it only stages modifications and new files within the current directory and its subdirectories.
Summary:
- If you want to stage all changes, including modifications, deletions, and additions, across the entire working directory, use
git add -A. - If you only want to stage modifications and new files within the current directory and its subdirectories, but not deletions, use
git add ..
Additional Note:
- Both commands add changes to the staging area, but they don't commit the changes. You still need to run
git committo commit the staged changes to the repository. - Be careful when using
git add -Aas it stages all changes, including potentially unwanted deletions. Always review the changes before committing. - Always use these commands with caution, especially when working on shared repositories, to ensure that you're only staging the changes you intend to include in the next commit.
Got an article suggestion?
Let us know
Explore more
How Do I Change the URI (URL) for a Remote Git Repository?
Questions
How To Whitelist Better Stack IPs in Digital Ocean
Learn how to whitelist Better Stack IPs on Digital Ocean and prevent any false incident alerting.
Questions
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
-
How Do I Change the URI (URL) for a Remote Git Repository?
To change the URI (URL) for a remote Git repository, you can use the git remote set-url command. Here's how you can do it: Step 1: List Current Remote URLs First, you may want to see the current UR...
Questions -
How To Whitelist Better Stack IPs in Digital Ocean
Learn how to whitelist Better Stack IPs on Digital Ocean and prevent any false incident alerting.
Questions