Git Stash

Overview

git stash saves your working directory and index changes without committing. Switch branches, pull updates, or handle urgent fixes—then reapply stashed work when ready.

Syntax / Usage

# Stash tracked changes
git stash
git stash push -m "WIP login form"

# Include untracked files
git stash -u

# List stashes
git stash list

# Apply most recent (keep stash)
git stash apply

# Apply and remove
git stash pop

# Apply specific stash
git stash apply stash@{2}

# Drop stash
git stash drop stash@{0}
git stash clear   # remove all

Examples

Switch branches with dirty working tree:

git stash push -m "half-done refactor"
git switch main
git pull
git switch feature/refactor
git stash pop

Stash only specific files:

git stash push -m "config only" -- package.json tsconfig.json

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting stashed work exists—git stash list regularly
• stash pop conflicts when codebase changed—resolve like a merge
• Stashing secrets you did not mean to persist in .git internals
• Assuming stashes are backed up remotely—they are local unless pushed to a special branch

See Also

commit branch merge remote