git stash pop to restore - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of git stash pop when there are no stashes?

You run git stash pop but your stash list is empty. What will Git output?

A Already up to date.

B error: Your local changes to the following files would be overwritten by merge:

C Dropped refs/stash@{0} (a1b2c3d4)

D No stash entries found.

💡 Hint

Think about what happens if you try to apply a stash that does not exist.

If there are no stashes saved, git stash pop will output No stash entries found. because there is nothing to apply or drop.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What happens when git stash pop is run and conflicts occur?

You have local changes conflicting with the stash content. You run git stash pop. What output do you expect?

A

Auto-merging file.txt
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in file.txt
Failed to apply stash@{0}

B Dropped refs/stash@{0} (a1b2c3d4)

C No stash entries found.

D Already up to date.

💡 Hint

Conflicts during stash pop behave like merge conflicts.

If conflicts happen, Git shows the conflicting files and reports failure to apply the stash. The stash is not dropped in this case.

🔀 Workflow

advanced

Which command sequence correctly restores and removes the latest stash?

You want to restore your latest stash and remove it from the stash list in one step. Which command sequence does this?

A git stash apply && git stash drop

B git stash pop

C git stash apply

D git stash drop

💡 Hint

One command both applies and removes the stash.

git stash pop applies the latest stash and then removes it from the stash list automatically.

❓ Troubleshoot

advanced

Why does git stash pop fail with 'Your local changes would be overwritten'?

You run git stash pop but get an error saying your local changes would be overwritten. What is the cause?

A You have uncommitted changes conflicting with the stash content.

B The stash list is empty.

C You are not on any branch.

D The stash was already dropped.

💡 Hint

Think about what happens if the stash tries to overwrite files you changed.

This error means Git refuses to apply the stash because it would overwrite your current uncommitted changes, preventing data loss.

✅ Best Practice

expert

What is the safest way to restore a stash without losing it if conflicts occur?

You want to restore your stash but keep it safe in case conflicts happen. Which command should you use?

A git stash drop

B git stash pop

C git stash apply

D git stash save

💡 Hint

One command applies stash but does not remove it.

git stash apply restores the stash but keeps it in the stash list, so you can retry or drop it later if conflicts occur.