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.

Practice

1. What does the git stash pop command do in Git?

easy

A. It restores the most recent stashed changes and removes them from the stash list.

B. It permanently deletes all stashes without restoring changes.

C. It creates a new stash with the current changes.

D. It lists all the stashes without applying any changes.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of git stash pop

   This command is used to bring back the most recent saved changes from the stash and apply them to the working directory.

2. Step 2: Recognize the effect on the stash list

   After applying the changes, it removes that stash entry from the stash list, unlike git stash apply which keeps it.

3. Final Answer:

   It restores the most recent stashed changes and removes them from the stash list. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   git stash pop = restore + remove stash [OK]

Hint: Pop restores and deletes stash; apply restores only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing pop with apply
• Thinking pop deletes all stashes
• Believing pop creates a new stash

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to restore stashed changes using git stash pop?

easy

A. git stash apply pop

B. git pop stash

C. git stash restore

D. git stash pop stash@{1}

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct command structure

   The correct command to pop a specific stash is git stash pop followed by the stash reference, e.g., stash@{1}.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Options B, C, and D are invalid Git commands or incorrect syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   git stash pop stash@{1} -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Pop syntax = git stash pop [stash_ref] [OK]

Hint: Use stash@{n} to pop specific stash [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'git pop stash' which is invalid
• Confusing 'apply' and 'pop' syntax
• Using 'git stash restore' which doesn't exist

3. Given the following commands executed in order:

git stash save "work in progress"
git stash pop

What will be the output or effect after git stash pop?

medium

A. The stash list remains unchanged and changes are not restored.

B. The saved changes are restored to the working directory and the stash is removed.

C. An error occurs because stash pop requires a stash reference.

D. The changes are restored but the stash remains in the list.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand git stash save

   This command saves current changes to a new stash with the message "work in progress".

2. Step 2: Understand git stash pop without arguments

   By default, it restores the most recent stash and removes it from the stash list.

3. Final Answer:

   The saved changes are restored to the working directory and the stash is removed. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Pop restores + deletes latest stash [OK]

Hint: Pop without args restores latest stash [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking pop needs stash reference always
• Believing stash remains after pop
• Expecting error on pop without args

4. You ran git stash pop but got a conflict error. What is the best way to fix this?

medium

A. Ignore the conflicts and continue working without fixing.

B. Run git stash pop again immediately to overwrite conflicts.

C. Manually resolve the conflicts in files, then stage and commit the changes.

D. Delete the stash manually and reset the branch to discard changes.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand conflict after stash pop

   Conflicts mean changes from stash and current files clash and must be fixed manually.

2. Step 2: Resolve conflicts properly

   Open conflicted files, fix differences, then stage and commit to save resolved state.

3. Final Answer:

   Manually resolve the conflicts in files, then stage and commit the changes. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Fix conflicts manually after stash pop [OK]

Hint: Resolve conflicts manually, then stage and commit [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Rerunning stash pop causing more conflicts
• Deleting stash without restoring changes
• Ignoring conflicts and losing work

5. You have two stashes saved: stash@{0} and stash@{1}. You want to restore stash@{1} but keep stash@{1} intact. Which command should you use?

hard

A. git stash apply stash@{1}

B. git stash pop stash@{0}

C. git stash pop stash@{1}

D. git stash drop stash@{1}

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand difference between pop and apply

   git stash pop restores and removes the stash entry; git stash apply restores but keeps the stash.

2. Step 2: Choose command to restore stash@{1} without removing it

   Use git stash apply stash@{1} to restore changes but keep stash@{1} in the list.

3. Final Answer:

   git stash apply stash@{1} -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Apply restores stash without deleting it [OK]

Hint: Use apply to restore stash without deleting it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using pop which deletes the stash
• Dropping stash instead of restoring
• Applying wrong stash reference