Git Restore vs Git Checkout: Key Differences and Usage

The git restore command is designed specifically to undo changes in the working directory or staging area, while git checkout is a more versatile command used to switch branches or restore files. git restore was introduced to simplify undo operations and separate concerns from git checkout.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of git restore and git checkout commands.

Feature	git restore	git checkout
Primary purpose	Undo changes in working directory or staging area	Switch branches or restore files
Introduced in Git version	2.23 (August 2019)	Very early Git versions
Syntax clarity	Simpler and focused	More complex and multifunctional
Restore files from commit	Yes	Yes
Switch branches	No	Yes
Stage/unstage files	Can unstage files	Can unstage files

Key Differences

git restore was introduced to make undoing changes easier and clearer by focusing only on restoring files in the working directory or staging area. It separates the concerns of undoing changes from switching branches, which was previously handled by the overloaded git checkout command.

git checkout is a powerful but complex command that can switch branches, restore files, and unstage changes. This multifunctionality can confuse beginners because the same command does different things depending on the arguments.

Using git restore improves clarity and reduces mistakes by clearly expressing the intent to undo changes without affecting branches. However, git checkout remains necessary for switching branches and some advanced workflows.

Code Comparison

Undo changes to a file in the working directory using git restore:

bash

git restore filename.txt

Output

Restores filename.txt to the last committed state, discarding local changes.

Git Checkout Equivalent

Undo changes to the same file using git checkout:

bash

git checkout -- filename.txt

Output

Restores filename.txt to the last committed state, discarding local changes.

When to Use Which

Choose git restore when you want to undo changes in files or unstage files because it is clearer and safer for these tasks. Use git checkout when you need to switch branches or perform complex operations involving both branch switching and file restoration. For beginners, prefer git restore to avoid confusion and accidental branch changes.

Key Takeaways

Use git restore to undo changes in files or unstage files clearly and safely.

git checkout is still needed to switch branches.

git restore was introduced to simplify undo operations and separate concerns.

Avoid using git checkout for undoing changes to reduce mistakes.

Choose commands based on your intent: restore files or switch branches.