How to Check Git Status: Simple Guide to git status Command

Use the git status command to see the current state of your Git repository. It shows which files are staged, unstaged, or untracked, helping you understand what changes are ready to be committed.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the git status command is simple and does not require any arguments. You can run it inside any Git repository folder.

• git status: Shows the current status of your working directory and staging area.

bash

git status

Example

This example shows how to use git status in a repository where some files are modified and some are untracked. It helps you see what changes are staged for commit and what files are new or changed.

bash

$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'.

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git restore <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
	modified:   example.txt

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)
	newfile.txt

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

Output

On branch main
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/main'.

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git restore <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
	modified:   example.txt

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)
	newfile.txt

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes when using git status include:

• Expecting git status to show committed changes instead of staged or unstaged changes.
• Not running git status inside a Git repository folder, which causes an error.
• Confusing untracked files with ignored files (ignored files do not show up in git status).

Always make sure you are in the right folder and understand the difference between staged, unstaged, and untracked files.

bash

Wrong usage example:
$ git status /some/other/folder
fatal: not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git

Right usage example:
$ cd my-git-repo
$ git status
# shows status of current repo

Quick Reference

Here is a quick summary of what git status shows:

Status Type	Description	What to do
Changes to be committed	Files staged and ready for commit	Use git commit to save changes
Changes not staged for commit	Modified files not yet staged	Use git add <file> to stage
Untracked files	New files not tracked by Git	Use git add <file> to start tracking
Ignored files	Files ignored by .gitignore	No action needed, they don't appear in status

Key Takeaways

Run git status inside your Git repository folder to see current changes.

git status shows staged, unstaged, and untracked files clearly.

Use git add to stage changes before committing.

Make sure you are in the correct folder to avoid errors.

Understanding git status helps you manage your commits effectively.