git stash pop to restore - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - git stash pop to restore

Make changes in working directory

↓

Run git stash

↓

Changes saved and working directory clean

↓

Run git stash pop

↓

Changes restored to working directory

↓

Stash entry removed from stash list

This flow shows how changes are saved temporarily with git stash, then restored and removed from stash using git stash pop.

Execution Sample

Git

git stash
# saves changes

git stash pop
# restores changes and removes stash

This code saves current changes to stash and then restores them back to the working directory, removing the stash entry.

Process Table

Step	Command	Action	Working Directory State	Stash List State	Output
1	git stash	Save changes to stash	Clean (no changes)	1 stash entry	Saved working directory and index state WIP on branch
2	git stash pop	Apply stash and remove it	Changes restored	Empty (stash cleared)	On branch branch-name Dropped refs/stash@{0} (hash)
3	-	End	Changes restored in working directory	No stash entries

💡 Stash applied and removed, working directory restored to saved changes

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After git stash	After git stash pop	Final
Working Directory	Has uncommitted changes	Clean (no changes)	Changes restored	Changes restored
Stash List	Empty	1 stash entry	Empty	Empty

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does git stash pop remove the stash entry after restoring changes?

Because git stash pop applies the saved changes and then deletes that stash entry to keep the stash list clean, as shown in execution_table step 2.

What happens if there are conflicts when running git stash pop?

Git will apply changes but pause to let you resolve conflicts manually before completing, which is not shown here but important to know.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the state of the working directory after step 1?

A Contains uncommitted changes

B Clean with no changes

C Contains committed changes

D Empty directory

💡 Hint

Check the 'Working Directory State' column in row for step 1

At which step is the stash entry removed from the stash list?

A Step 1

B Step 3

C Step 2

D Never removed

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Stash List State' column in the execution table

If you run git stash pop twice in a row without new stashes, what happens?

A Second pop fails with no stash entries

B Second pop creates a new stash

C Second pop restores changes again

D Second pop cleans working directory

💡 Hint

Refer to the stash list state after step 2 and what happens when stash is empty

Concept Snapshot

Use git stash to save your current changes temporarily.
Then git stash pop restores those changes back to your working directory.
It also removes the stash entry so it doesn't stay saved.
Use it to quickly save and restore work in progress.
If conflicts occur, you must resolve them manually.

Full Transcript

This visual execution shows how git stash pop works. First, you make changes in your working directory. Running git stash saves those changes and cleans your directory. The stash list now has one entry. Next, running git stash pop applies those saved changes back to your working directory and removes the stash entry. The working directory now has your changes restored, and the stash list is empty. This helps you temporarily save work and restore it later. Remember, if conflicts happen during pop, you must fix them manually before continuing.

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