23 GitHub commands every developer should know

Git is the foundation of modern software collaboration, and GitHub is where that work gets shared, reviewed, and deployed. Whether you’re working solo or as part of a team, there are a handful of commands you’ll use over and over again.

This post distills 23 essential Git and GitHub commands, focusing on those you’ll use most frequently in your daily development workflow. Let’s dive in and master the tools that empower seamless collaboration and efficient version control.

Initializing and cloning

git init

Start a new local Git repository.

git init

Use this when you want to start tracking a folder with Git.

git clone

Copy a remote repository (like one from GitHub) to your local machine.

git clone https://github.com/your-user/repo-name.git

Often your first step when working with existing code.

Staging and committing

git status

Check which files have changed and what’s staged.

git status

Helpful before every commit.

git add

Stage files for a commit.

git add .         # Add everything
git add file.txt  # Add a specific file

Only staged files will be included in the commit.

git commit

Commit staged changes with a message.

git commit -m "Describe what you changed"

Make your messages meaningful and consistent.

Pushing and pulling

git push

Send local commits to GitHub.

git push origin main

Pushes your changes to the remote main branch.

git pull

Fetch and merge updates from GitHub into your local branch.

git pull origin main

Keeps your local repo up to date with teammates’ changes.

git fetch

Download new data from GitHub without merging it yet.

git fetch origin

Lets you inspect what’s changed before integrating it.

Working with branches

git branch

List, create, or delete branches.

git branch            # List branches
git branch new-branch # Create a branch

git checkout or git switch

Switch between branches.

git checkout branch-name
# or
git switch branch-name

git switch is preferred in newer Git versions.

git checkout -b

Create and switch to a new branch in one step.

git checkout -b feature/new-page

Useful when starting new work.

git merge

Merge one branch into another.

git merge feature/new-page

Brings changes from one branch into your current one.

Undoing and fixing

git stash

Temporarily save uncommitted changes.

git stash

Use this to switch branches without losing your work.

git reset

Undo commits or staged files.

git reset HEAD~1       # Undo last commit
git reset file.txt     # Unstage a file

git restore

Restore a file to the last committed version.

git restore file.txt

Discard unwanted changes in a specific file.

git rebase -i

Interactively rebase commits to clean up history.

git rebase -i HEAD~3

This powerful command allows you to squash, reorder, edit, or delete commits, creating a cleaner and more linear project history before pushing to a shared repository.

git reflog

Show a log of where HEAD and other references have been.

git reflog

A lifesaver for recovering lost commits or branches, as it tracks almost every change to your repository.

Inspecting and reviewing

git log

View your commit history.

git log

Add --oneline for a more compact view.

git diff

See what has changed.

git diff            # Show changes not yet staged
git diff --staged   # Show changes between staging area and last commit

Useful before committing or pushing changes.

Tagging and releases

git tag

Mark a specific commit with a version or release label.

git tag v1.0.0
git push origin v1.0.0

Helpful for tracking releases. Check out the full guide to Git tags →

Remotes and repositories

git remote -v

List the current remote URLs.

git remote -v

Verify where your code is being pushed and pulled from.

git remote add

Add a new remote repository.

git remote add origin https://github.com/user/repo.git

Common when connecting a local repo to GitHub for the first time.

git config

Get and set repository or global options.

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

Essential for setting up your Git identity and customizing your Git environment.

Bonus: GitHub CLI commands

If you’re using the GitHub CLI (gh), here are a few you’ll use often:

gh repo clone owner/repo
gh issue create
gh pr create

This tool integrates directly with GitHub for managing repos, issues, and pull requests from the terminal.

Conclusion

Mastering Git and GitHub isn’t about memorizing hundreds of commands — it’s about understanding the key commands that power your daily workflow. These 23 commands form the backbone of most projects, from cloning and committing to merging and releasing, empowering you to navigate your codebase with confidence and collaborate effectively. What are your go-to Git commands? Share your favorites in the comments below!