Chapter 11: Git Help
Git Help — one of the most underused yet incredibly powerful features, especially when you’re learning or stuck in the middle of something.
Git Help is Git’s built-in documentation system. It’s not just a boring man-page — it’s actually very good, always up-to-date with your exact installed Git version, works completely offline, and gives you examples, options, and explanations right in your terminal.
Many beginners ignore it and go straight to Google/Stack Overflow/ChatGPT — but once you learn to use Git’s own help, you’ll become much faster at solving problems and understanding commands deeply.
The 4 Main Ways to Get Help in Git (2026 reality)
| Way | Command Example | When to use it | What you get | Best for beginners? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Quick one-line summary | git help git –help | Want list of all commands | Short list of common commands + categories | Yes – overview |
| 2. Full help page for command | git help commit git commit –help | Learning / understanding one command deeply | Long formatted page (man-page style) | ★★★★★ (most useful) |
| 3. Web browser version | git help -w commit | Prefer reading in browser with better scrolling | Opens your default browser with the same content | Very good |
| 4. Only see options/syntax | git commit -h | Just need flags & short reminder | Very short summary (no examples) | Quick reminders |
Golden rule for 2026 beginners:
Whenever you see a command you’re not 100% sure about → first type git <command> –help or git help <command> → read it for 30–60 seconds → 80% of the time you’ll understand what’s going on without searching online.
Hands-on Examples – Let’s Actually Use Git Help Right Now
Open your terminal/Git Bash and try these one by one.
Example 1 – Overall Git overview
|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
git help # or git --help |
You’ll see something like:
|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 |
usage: git [--version] [--help] [-C <path>] [-c <name>=<value>] [--exec-path[=<path>]] [--html-path] [--man-path] [--info-path] [-p | --paginate | -P | --no-pager] [--no-replace-objects] [--bare] [--git-dir=<path>] [--work-tree=<path>] [--namespace=<name>] <command> [<args>] These are common Git commands used in various situations: start a working area (see also: git help tutorial) clone Clone a repository into a new directory init Create an empty Git repository or reinitialize an existing one work on the current change (see also: git help everyday) add Add file contents to the index mv Move or rename a file, a directory, or a symlink restore Restore working tree files reset Reset current HEAD to the specified state rm Remove files from the working tree and from the index sparse-checkout Initialize and modify the sparse-checkout examine the history and state (see also: git help revisions) bisect Use binary search to find the commit that introduced a bug diff Show changes between commits, commit and working tree, etc grep Print lines matching a pattern log Show commit logs show Show various types of objects status Show the working tree status ... |
→ Great first look: categories + most important commands.
Example 2 – Deep dive into a command (most powerful way)
|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
git help commit # or git commit --help |
You get a full man-page (scroll with arrow keys, space, q to quit):
- NAME
- SYNOPSIS (syntax)
- DESCRIPTION (what it does)
- OPTIONS (every flag explained)
- EXAMPLES (real usage)
- CONFIGURATION VARIABLES
- DISCUSSION (advanced notes)
- SEE ALSO (links to related commands)
Real snippet you’ll see:
|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 |
GIT-COMMIT(1) Git Manual GIT-COMMIT(1) NAME git-commit - Record changes to the repository SYNOPSIS git commit [-a | --interactive | --patch] [-s] [-v] [-u<mode>] [--amend] [--dry-run] [(-c | -C | --squash) <commit> | --fixup [(amend|reword):]<commit>] [-F <file> | -m <msg>] [--reset-author] [--allow-empty] [--allow-empty-message] [--no-verify] [-e] [--author=<author>] [--date=<date>] [--cleanup=<mode>] [--[no-]status] [-i | -o] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [-S[<keyid>]] [--] [<pathspec>...] DESCRIPTION Create a new commit containing the current contents of the index and the given log message describing the changes. The new commit is a direct child of HEAD, usually the tip of the current branch, and the branch is updated to point to it (unless no branch is associated with the working tree, in which case HEAD is "detached" as described in git-checkout(1)). EXAMPLES ... • Create a commit with only staged changes: $ git commit -m "Add new feature" • Amend the last commit: $ git commit --amend -m "Improved message" |
→ See how it gives examples? That’s gold.
Example 3 – Open in browser (very comfortable)
|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
git help -w log # or git help -w stash |
→ Your default browser opens with nicely formatted HTML version of the help page.
Example 4 – Quick flags reminder only
|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
git stash -h # or git reset -h |
Super short output:
|
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 |
usage: git stash list [<options>] or: git stash show [<stash>] or: git stash drop [-q|--quiet] [<stash>] or: git stash ( pop | apply ) [--index] [-q|--quiet] [<stash>] or: git stash branch <branchname> [<stash>] or: git stash [push [-p|--patch] [-k|--[no-]keep-index] [-q|--quiet] [-u|--include-untracked] [-a|--all] [-m <message>] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [--] [<pathspec>...]] or: git stash clear or: git stash ( pop | apply ) [--index] [-q|--quiet] [<stash>] |
Perfect when you just forgot whether it’s –include-untracked or -u.
Pro Tips – How Experienced People Use Git Help (2026 style)
-
Alias for speed (add once):
Bash0123456git config --global alias.h "help"Then: git h commit = git help commit
-
Always read EXAMPLES section first — it’s usually enough
-
Use git help -w when on laptop with big screen
-
Combine with search: git help stash | grep untracked (finds -u flag quickly)
-
When learning new area → start with git help tutorial or git help everyday
Mini Homework – Do These Right Now
- git help status → read the DESCRIPTION and EXAMPLES
- git stash -h → notice the short form
- git help -w log → open in browser and scroll to PRETTY FORMATS section
- git help revisions → this is advanced but explains ~, ^, @ syntax (very powerful)
Got the habit yet? From now on — before Googling any Git command → try git <command> –help first.
Next class?
- Want to explore git help tutorial or git help -a (all commands list)?
- Or dive into a specific confusing command’s help page together?
Just tell me — we’re making you self-sufficient with Git! 🚀
