Merge branch 'je/doc-reset' into seen

Documentation updates.

* je/doc-reset:
  doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset <pathspec>`
  doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset [mode]`
  doc: git-reset: clarify intro
  doc: git-reset: reorder the forms
This commit is contained in:
Junio C Hamano 2026-01-09 22:46:03 -08:00
commit aa521199ee

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@ -3,86 +3,67 @@ git-reset(1)
NAME
----
git-reset - Reset current HEAD to the specified state
git-reset - Set `HEAD` or the index to a known state
SYNOPSIS
--------
[synopsis]
git reset [--soft | --mixed [-N] | --hard | --merge | --keep] [-q] [<commit>]
git reset [-q] [<tree-ish>] [--] <pathspec>...
git reset [-q] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [<tree-ish>]
git reset (--patch | -p) [<tree-ish>] [--] [<pathspec>...]
git reset [--soft | --mixed [-N] | --hard | --merge | --keep] [-q] [<commit>]
DESCRIPTION
-----------
In the first three forms, copy entries from _<tree-ish>_ to the index.
In the last form, set the current branch head (`HEAD`) to _<commit>_,
optionally modifying index and working tree to match.
The _<tree-ish>_/_<commit>_ defaults to `HEAD` in all forms.
`git reset` does either of the following:
`git reset [-q] [<tree-ish>] [--] <pathspec>...`::
`git reset [-q] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [<tree-ish>]`::
These forms reset the index entries for all paths that match the
_<pathspec>_ to their state at _<tree-ish>_. (It does not affect
the working tree or the current branch.)
+
This means that `git reset <pathspec>` is the opposite of `git add
<pathspec>`. This command is equivalent to
`git restore [--source=<tree-ish>] --staged <pathspec>...`.
+
After running `git reset <pathspec>` to update the index entry, you can
use linkgit:git-restore[1] to check the contents out of the index to
the working tree. Alternatively, using linkgit:git-restore[1]
and specifying a commit with `--source`, you
can copy the contents of a path out of a commit to the index and to the
working tree in one go.
`git reset (--patch | -p) [<tree-ish>] [--] [<pathspec>...]`::
Interactively select hunks in the difference between the index
and _<tree-ish>_ (defaults to `HEAD`). The chosen hunks are applied
in reverse to the index.
+
This means that `git reset -p` is the opposite of `git add -p`, i.e.
you can use it to selectively reset hunks. See the "Interactive Mode"
section of linkgit:git-add[1] to learn how to operate the `--patch` mode.
1. `git reset [<mode>] <commit>` changes which commit `HEAD` points to. This
makes it possible to undo various Git operations, for example commit, merge,
rebase, and pull.
2. When you specify files or directories or pass `--patch`, `git reset` updates
the staged version of the specified files.
`git reset [<mode>] [<commit>]`::
This form resets the current branch head to _<commit>_ and
possibly updates the index (resetting it to the tree of _<commit>_) and
the working tree depending on _<mode>_. Before the operation, `ORIG_HEAD`
is set to the tip of the current branch. If _<mode>_ is omitted,
defaults to `--mixed`. The _<mode>_ must be one of the following:
Set the current branch head (`HEAD`) to point at _<commit>_.
Depending on _<mode>_, also update the working directory and/or index
to match the contents of _<commit>_.
_<commit>_ defaults to `HEAD`.
Before the operation, `ORIG_HEAD` is set to the tip of the current branch.
+
The _<mode>_ must be one of the following (default `--mixed`):
+
--
`--soft`::
Does not touch the index file or the working tree at all (but
resets the head to _<commit>_, just like all modes do). This leaves
all your changed files "Changes to be committed", as `git status`
would put it.
--
`--mixed`::
Resets the index but not the working tree (i.e., the changed files
are preserved but not marked for commit) and reports what has not
been updated. This is the default action.
Leave your working directory unchanged.
Update the index to match the new `HEAD`, so nothing will be staged.
+
If `-N` is specified, removed paths are marked as intent-to-add (see
If `-N` is specified, mark removed paths as intent-to-add (see
linkgit:git-add[1]).
`--soft`::
Leave your working tree files and the index unchanged.
For example, if you have no staged changes, you can use
`git reset --soft HEAD~5; git commit`
to combine the last 5 commits into 1 commit. This works even with
changes in the working tree, which are left untouched, but such usage
can lead to confusion.
`--hard`::
Resets the index and working tree. Any changes to tracked files in the
working tree since _<commit>_ are discarded. Any untracked files or
directories in the way of writing any tracked files are simply deleted.
Overwrite all files and directories with the version from _<commit>_,
and may overwrite untracked files. Tracked files not in _<commit>_ are
removed so that the working tree matches _<commit>_.
Update the index to match the new `HEAD`, so nothing will be staged.
`--merge`::
Resets the index and updates the files in the working tree that are
different between _<commit>_ and `HEAD`, but keeps those which are
Reset the index and update the files in the working tree that are
different between _<commit>_ and `HEAD`, but keep those which are
different between the index and working tree (i.e. which have changes
which have not been added).
Mainly exists to reset unmerged index entries, like those left behind by
`git am -3` or `git switch -m` in certain situations.
If a file that is different between _<commit>_ and the index has
unstaged changes, reset is aborted.
+
In other words, `--merge` does something like a `git read-tree -u -m <commit>`,
but carries forward unmerged index entries.
`--keep`::
Resets index entries and updates files in the working tree that are
@ -98,6 +79,28 @@ but carries forward unmerged index entries.
the submodules' `HEAD` to be detached at that commit.
--
`git reset [-q] [<tree-ish>] [--] <pathspec>...`::
`git reset [-q] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [<tree-ish>]`::
For all specified files or directories, set the staged version to
the version from the given commit or tree (which defaults to `HEAD`).
+
This means that `git reset <pathspec>` is the opposite of `git add
<pathspec>`: it unstages all changes to the specified file(s) or
directories. This is equivalent to `git restore --staged <pathspec>...`.
+
In this mode, `git reset` updates only the index (without updating the `HEAD` or
working tree files). If you want to update the files as well as the index
entries, use linkgit:git-restore[1].
`git reset (--patch | -p) [<tree-ish>] [--] [<pathspec>...]`::
Interactively select changes from the difference between the index
and the specified commit or tree (which defaults to `HEAD`).
The index is modified using the chosen changes.
+
This means that `git reset -p` is the opposite of `git add -p`, i.e.
you can use it to selectively unstage changes. See the "Interactive Mode"
section of linkgit:git-add[1] to learn how to use the `--patch` option.
See "Reset, restore and revert" in linkgit:git[1] for the differences
between the three commands.