Understanding Git Diff's Results - Line by Line

When using a version control system like Git, it's not uncommon to encounter situations where you need to compare changes between different versions of files or directories. In this article, we'll explore how to use the `git diff` command to identify changes made in your working directory and staged area.

Internal File Mode Identifier

Before diving into the details, let's take a closer look at the output of the `git diff` command. You may have noticed that it starts with a series of numbers, such as `100644`. These are internal file mode identifiers, which provide information about two files being compared.

Comparing Files

The first two lines of the output show metadata about the file, including its version number (A and B) and a hash code. These lines may not be particularly useful to your everyday life, but they're important for understanding how Git works.

Understanding Git Diff's Results - Line by Line

When you run `git diff`, it shows the difference between changes in your working directory and staged area. This can be a bit confusing at first, especially if you haven't made any changes since staging them. However, don't worry - I'm here to guide you through each line of the output.

Why Git Diff Shows Nothing

If you're wondering why `git diff` shows nothing when you run it before staging your changes, it's because there are no differences between your working directory and staged area. You can confirm this by using the `git status` command, which shows which changes are ready to commit.

Making Changes

Let's take an example of making a change to a file, such as renaming a dog from 'puppy' to 'pup'. Before committing these changes, you can use `git diff` to see what changes have been made in your working directory compared to the staged area.

Git Diff Command

The `git diff` command is an essential tool for any Git user. It lists out the changes between your current working directory and staging area. By using this command, you can identify any differences between your files and ensure that you're committing the correct changes.

In this article, we've explored how to use the `git diff` command to understand the results of comparing changes in your working directory and staged area. Whether you want to see the differences between two branches, commits, or files, or verify what changes you're about to commit compared to your last commit, `git diff` is an invaluable tool for any Git user.

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