Git stash pop vs git stash apply: Key Differences and Usage

The git stash pop command applies the latest stash and then removes it from the stash list, while git stash apply applies the stash but keeps it saved for later use. Use git stash pop when you want to apply and clear the stash, and git stash apply when you want to apply changes without deleting the stash.

Quick Comparison

This table summarizes the main differences between git stash pop and git stash apply.

Feature	git stash pop	git stash apply
Effect on stash list	Removes the applied stash	Keeps the stash intact
Use case	Apply and clear stash in one step	Apply stash but keep it for reuse
Conflict handling	Applies stash and removes it even if conflicts occur	Applies stash but stash remains if conflicts occur
Command syntax	git stash pop []	git stash apply []
Risk of losing stash	Higher if conflicts are not resolved	Lower because stash is preserved

Key Differences

git stash pop applies the changes saved in the stash to your working directory and then deletes that stash entry from the stash list. This means the stash is removed immediately after applying, which can be risky if conflicts occur because the stash is lost unless you manually save it again.

On the other hand, git stash apply applies the changes but keeps the stash entry intact in the stash list. This allows you to reapply the same stash multiple times or keep it as a backup if you want to try applying it later or on a different branch.

Both commands can take an optional stash reference (like stash@{1}) to apply a specific stash, but their main difference is whether the stash is removed after applying or not. Choosing between them depends on whether you want to keep the stash for future use or remove it immediately.

Code Comparison

bash

git stash pop

Output

Applying stash@{0}
On branch main
Changes applied and stash removed

git stash apply Equivalent

bash

git stash apply

Output

Applying stash@{0}
On branch main
Changes applied but stash remains

When to Use Which

Choose git stash pop when you want to quickly apply your stashed changes and clean up your stash list in one step, especially if you are confident there will be no conflicts or you have a backup.

Choose git stash apply when you want to apply changes but keep the stash for safety or reuse, such as when testing changes on multiple branches or when you want to keep the stash until you confirm everything works well.

Key Takeaways

git stash pop applies and removes the stash entry immediately.

git stash apply applies the stash but keeps it saved for reuse.

Use pop for quick apply-and-clean workflows.

Use apply to keep stashes safe and reusable.

Be cautious with pop if conflicts might occur to avoid losing changes.