🧠 How to Check Git File Info with git status — Beginner-Friendly Guide

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📌 Introduction

So, you’ve started using Git. Awesome! But now you want to know what’s actually happening with your files, right? Enter git status. Think of it like a smart assistant that tells you what’s cooking in your repo — from untracked files to what’s ready to commit.

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🔧 Understanding Git Basics

📁 What is Git?

Git is a version control system — basically, it tracks changes to your files over time. Like a time machine for code!

🗂️ How Git Tracks Files

Git keeps tabs on your files in different stages:

• Working Directory – where you’re editing.
• Staging Area (Index) – where you prepare changes.
• Repository (HEAD) – the committed version.

git status helps you understand where each file stands.

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🔍 What is git status?

📊 The Role of git status in Git Workflow

It’s like checking your luggage before a trip — git status helps you make sure nothing’s missing, broken, or extra before you commit.

🧾 What git status Actually Shows

• Which branch you’re on
• Which files are modified, staged, or untracked
• Whether everything’s clean or messy

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💻 Using git status in Real-Time

📝 Basic Syntax

git status

That’s it! No complicated flags required.

📂 How to Run It

Just open your terminal inside any Git-tracked folder and type the command.

🧭 Where to Use It

Inside any local Git repository. If Git isn’t initialized, it’ll tell you.

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🔎 Interpreting git status Output

🟡 “Changes not staged for commit”

You edited a file but haven’t told Git to track it (using git add).

Example:

modified: index.html

🆕 “Untracked files”

Git sees new files it doesn’t recognize.

Untracked files:
  style.css

🟢 “Changes to be committed”

These are staged and ready to be committed.

Changes to be committed:
  modified: index.html
  new file: script.js

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🎨 Git Status Color Codes Explained

🔴 Red = Unstaged

Files you’ve changed but not added.

🟡 Yellow = Staged

Files you’ve added but not yet committed.

🟢 Green = Committed

Ready to be locked into Git history.

🔧 Enabling Git Color Output

Git usually enables color by default. If not:

git config --global color.ui auto

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💡 Pro Tips for Efficient Git Usage

⚡ Aliasing git status

Too lazy to type git status?

git config --global alias.s status

Now just type:

git s

🧠 Check Status Before Every Commit

Get into this habit to avoid committing wrong files or missing something.

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⚡ Simplified View: git status -s

Want a shorter view? Use:

git status -s

🔤 Short Status Symbols

• M = Modified
• A = Added
• ?? = Untracked
• D = Deleted

Example:

M index.html
?? newstyle.css

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🎉 Final Words

Let’s wrap it up! 🎁

git status is the heartbeat of your Git workflow. It tells you what’s going on, what’s wrong, and what’s next. If you’re just starting with Git, make it your best friend.

Remember: Run it often. Understand it. Let it guide you.

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❓FAQs

1. What if my file doesn’t show in git status?

You’re probably outside a Git repo or haven’t saved the file.

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2. Can I undo a git add?

Yes! Use:

git restore --staged filename

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3. How to enable color in Git?

Use this:

git config --global color.ui auto

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4. Is git status safe to run?

Absolutely. It doesn’t change anything — it just shows info.

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5. How is git status different from git diff?

git status shows which files changed.
git diff shows what’s changed inside the files.