How to create a new branch from a stash?

Creating a New Branch from a Stash

In the world of Git, a stash is a way to temporarily save your local changes without committing them to the repository. This can be useful when you need to switch to a different branch or pull the latest changes from the remote repository, but you don't want to lose the work you've done. Once you've stashed your changes, you can create a new branch from the stashed state and continue working on your changes.

Here's how you can create a new branch from a stash:

1. Stash your current changes: Before you can create a new branch from a stash, you'll need to stash your current changes. You can do this using the git stash command:

   git stash

   This will save your current changes in the stash, and your working directory will be clean.

2. List your stashes: To see a list of your stashed changes, use the git stash list command:

   git stash list

   This will display a list of your stashed changes, with each stash having a unique identifier (e.g., stash@{0}, stash@{1}, etc.).

3. Create a new branch from a stash: To create a new branch from a stash, use the git stash branch command, followed by the name of the new branch and the identifier of the stash you want to use:

   git stash branch new-branch-name stash@{0}

   This command will:

   • Create a new branch named new-branch-name
   • Checkout the new branch
   • Apply the changes from the specified stash (stash@{0})
   • Drop the applied stash

Here's a Mermaid diagram that illustrates the process:

The diagram shows that the changes in the working directory are first stashed, then a new branch is created from the stashed changes, and finally, the new branch becomes the active working directory.

This approach can be particularly useful when you need to quickly switch to a different task or branch, but you don't want to lose the work you've done on your current task. By creating a new branch from the stash, you can continue working on your changes without having to commit them or discard them.

Remember, the git stash branch command is a convenient way to create a new branch from a stash, as it combines several steps into a single command. This can save you time and reduce the risk of making mistakes when working with stashes and branches.