Git status

$ git status

This is a command that we use to see the status of our Working Directory. It will show us all differences between our Working Directory and Index file or Staging Area, and we will see what files are staged, what are not and what files are not tracked by git.

If you haven't made any changes git will show you that your Working Directory is clean.

➜  git-basics-beginners git:(master) git status
On branch master
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/master'.

nothing to commit, working tree clean

If you have some changes than git will show you different status with some additional information.

➜  git-basics-beginners git:(master) ✗ git status
On branch master
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/master'.
Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
  modified:   README.md
no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

If you've added a new file to your project than git will tell you that a new file is untracked and that you should add it to your Staging Area using git add command.

➜  git-basics-beginners git:(master) ✗ git status
On branch master
Your branch is up to date with 'origin/master'.

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

  footer.js

nothing added to commit but untracked files present (use "git add" to track)

If you like more simplified and short output you can use --short option.

git status --short OR shorter => git status -s you can add also --branch option to show branch in short format.

$ git status --short --branch

➜  git-basics-beginners git:(master) ✗ git status --short --branch
## master...origin/master
 M README.md

 #### Based on your changes you will get a different format

`??` => New untracked files

`A` => new files that have been added to the staging area

`M` => modified files

`D` => deleted files

`R` => renamed files