If you’re reading this post, chances are you’re looking for a Git command that stages all changes before committing. To set the record straight: the correct command is git add -A. A quick look at the git add documentation will show you that git add -a doesn’t exist. Instead, git add -A is the command that stages all recent changes — including new, modified, and deleted files.
Let’s take a closer look to see if this is the command you’re really after.
Common Mistake: git add -a
When someone types git add -a, they’re usually trying to stage everything before a commit. It’s often a case of muscle memory or a mistaken assumption that -a stands for “add all.”
In most situations, what the user actually meant was either:
git add -Ato stage everything, orgit add .to stage changes in the current folder and below
git add . vs git add -A
These two commands are often used interchangeably, but they’re not exactly the same. While both will stage new, modified, and (in modern Git) deleted files, the main difference lies in their scope.
git add -A: Stages Everything, Everywhere
When you run git add -A, Git stages all changes across the entire working tree, no matter where you are in the project.
For example, even if you’re working in a deep directory like src/assets/images, git add -A will still stage changes from higher directories like src/ or the root.
git add .: Stages From the Current Directory Down
On the other hand, git add . only stages changes in the current directory and its subdirectories. The dot (.) refers to “this folder,” so changes in sibling or parent directories won’t be included.
So, When Does It Matter?
If you’re working from the root of your repository, there’s practically no difference between git add . and git add -A in modern Git versions — both will stage everything.
But if you’re working in a subdirectory and want to stage all changes in the project, you should use git add -A.
If you only want to stage changes within the folder you’re in, then git add . is the right choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
git add -a a valid Git command?No — git add -a is not a valid command. If you try it, Git will return an error: error: unknown switch 'a'.
The correct command to stage all changes is git add -A.
git add -A from the root of my repository?No, you can run git add -A from any directory inside your project, and it will always stage changes across the entire directory
Thanks for being here! 🙌 If you found this post helpful, giving it a like or share means a lot to us — it helps others find it too.
Got another Git command that’s confusing or unclear? Drop a comment below, and we’ll be happy to explain it in a future post or reply directly. We’re here to make Git simpler, one command at a time. 😊
Leave a reply