How to Use git status to Check Your Repository

git status shows the current state of your working copy — which files have changed, which are staged for the next commit, and whether your branch is in sync with its remote counterpart. It's one of the most frequently used Git commands and safe to run at any time.

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Reading the Output

Run git status with no arguments:

$ git status
On branch feature/login
Your branch is ahead of 'origin/feature/login' by 1 commit.

Changes to be committed:
  (use "git restore --staged <file>..." to unstage)
     deleted:   error.html
     new file:   img/icon.png

Unmerged paths:
  (use "git restore --staged <file>..." to unstage)
  (use "git add <file>..." to mark resolution)
      both modified:   index.html

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:   imprint.html

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

Here's what each section means:

• "On branch..." — the branch you currently have checked out.
• "Your branch is..." — sync state with the remote: "ahead" means unpushed commits, "behind" means unpulled commits.
• "Changes to be committed" — modifications already staged with git add, ready for the next commit.
• "Unmerged paths" — files in a conflict state that need to be resolved before committing.
• "Changes not staged for commit" — modified tracked files not yet staged.
• "Untracked files" — new files Git is not yet tracking.

Compact Output

For a shorter format that still includes branch tracking info, use -s -b:

$ git status -s -b
## feature/login...origin/feature/login [ahead 1]
D  error.html
A  img/icon.png
 M imprint.html
UU index.html
?? products.html