Git stash pop vs 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 stash pop to apply and clean up in one step, and git stash apply when you want to keep the stash for reuse.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of git stash pop and git stash apply based on key factors.

Factor	git stash pop	git stash apply
Effect on stash list	Removes the applied stash from the list	Keeps the stash in the list
Use case	Apply and remove 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

The main difference between git stash pop and git stash apply lies in what happens to the stash after it is applied. 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 and cannot be reused unless you create it again.

On the other hand, git stash apply applies the stash changes but keeps the stash entry intact in the stash list. This allows you to apply the same stash multiple times or keep it as a backup until you are sure you no longer need it.

Another important difference is how conflicts are handled. If conflicts occur during git stash pop, the stash is still removed, which can lead to losing the stash if you don't resolve conflicts carefully. With git stash apply, the stash remains even if conflicts happen, so you can retry or inspect the stash safely.

Code Comparison

Here is how you use git stash pop to apply the latest stash and remove it from the stash list.

bash

git stash pop

Output

On branch main
Changes from stash applied and stash entry removed

git stash apply Equivalent

Here is how you use git stash apply to apply the latest stash but keep it in the stash list.

bash

git stash apply

Output

On branch main
Changes from stash applied but stash entry remains

When to Use Which

Choose git stash pop when you want to quickly apply your saved changes and clean up your stash list in one step, especially if you are confident the changes will apply cleanly.

Choose git stash apply when you want to test or apply the stash changes but keep the stash for backup or reuse, or when you want to avoid losing the stash if conflicts occur.

Key Takeaways

git stash pop applies and removes the stash entry.

git stash apply applies the stash but keeps it saved.

Use stash pop for quick apply-and-clean workflows.

Use stash apply to keep stash for reuse or safety.

Be careful with conflicts when using stash pop to avoid losing changes.