Staging Files

The staging area (also called the index) lets you choose exactly which changes to include in your next commit.

Staging a Single File

git add filename.txt

Staging Multiple Files

git add file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

Staging All Changes

# Stage everything (new, modified, and deleted files)
git add .

# Or use -A flag
git add -A

Staging by Pattern

# All JavaScript files
git add *.js

# All files in a folder
git add src/

Checking What's Staged

# See staged and unstaged changes
git status

# See exactly what changed (unstaged)
git diff

# See what's staged (ready to commit)
git diff --staged

Unstaging Files

# Remove a file from staging (keep changes in working directory)
git reset HEAD filename.txt

# Or with newer Git
git restore --staged filename.txt

Why Stage?

Staging lets you make selective commits. You might have changed 10 files, but only want to commit 3 related changes together. The staging area gives you that control.

Example Workflow

# Edit multiple files
# ... make changes to header.html, style.css, script.js, readme.md

# Stage only the header changes
git add header.html style.css
git commit -m "Update header layout and styling"

# Stage the rest separately
git add script.js readme.md
git commit -m "Add navigation script and update docs"