How to stage changes before git commit?

Staging Changes Before Git Commit

In the world of Git, the staging area plays a crucial role in managing your changes before committing them to the repository. The staging area, also known as the "index," is an intermediate step between your working directory and the Git repository. It allows you to selectively choose which changes you want to include in your next commit.

Understanding the Git Workflow

The typical Git workflow involves three main areas:

Working Directory: This is where you make your changes to the files.
Staging Area: This is where you stage the changes you want to include in your next commit.
Git Repository: This is where the committed changes are stored.

graph LR A[Working Directory] --> B[Staging Area] B --> C[Git Repository]

Staging Changes

To stage changes before a Git commit, you can use the git add command. This command allows you to selectively add changes to the staging area, preparing them for the next commit.

Here's how you can stage changes:

Stage a single file:
```
git add <filename>
```
Stage all changes in the current directory:
```
git add .
```
Stage specific changes within a file:
```
git add -p <filename>
```
This command will prompt you to review each change and decide whether to stage it or not.
Stage changes by file pattern:
```
git add *.txt
```
This will stage all changes in files with the .txt extension.

After staging the changes, you can review the staged changes using the git status command. This will show you which files have been staged and which ones have not.

Unstaging Changes

If you've accidentally staged a change or want to remove a file from the staging area, you can use the git reset command:

Unstage a single file:
```
git reset <filename>
```
Unstage all changes in the staging area:
```
git reset
```

By using the git add and git reset commands, you can effectively manage your changes before committing them to the Git repository, ensuring that only the desired changes are included in your next commit.

Remember, the staging area is a powerful tool that allows you to maintain a clean and organized commit history, making it easier to track and manage your project's evolution over time.