Add files to your branch
Use Git to add files to a branch in your local repository. This action creates a snapshot of the file for your next commit and starts version control monitoring. When you add files with Git, you:
- Prepare content for version control tracking.
- Create a record of file additions and modifications.
- Preserve file history for future reference.
- Make project files available for team collaboration.
Add files to a Git repository
To add a new file from the command line:
Open a terminal.
Change directories until you are in your project’s folder.
cd my-project
Choose a Git branch to work in.
- To create a branch:
git checkout -b <branchname>
- To switch to an existing branch:
git checkout <branchname>
- To create a branch:
Copy the file you want to add into the directory where you want to add it.
Confirm that your file is in the directory:
- Windows:
dir
- All other operating systems:
ls
The filename should be displayed.
- Windows:
Check the status of the file:
git status
The filename should be in red. The file is in your file system, but Git isn’t tracking it yet.
Tell Git to track the file:
git add <filename>
Check the status of the file again:
git status
The filename should be green. The file is staged (tracked locally) by Git, but has not been committed and pushed.
Add a file to the last commit
To add changes to a file to the last commit, instead of to a new commit, amend the existing commit:
git add <filename>
git commit --amend
If you do not want to edit the commit message, append --no-edit
to the commit
command.
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