5.4.2. git reset - How to step back and take a different turn?

git reset  moves the current HEAD to a specific state.

Diverging History

Setting back HEAD bares the risk to create an alternative history.

De-referenced Commits

Setting back HEAD bares the risk to leave commits without a reference (Tag or Branch). Such commits will be eventually deleted.

Example: git reset HEAD~2:

A ── B ── C ── D ── E   (old tip, now orphaned)
          ^
          └─ HEAD after `reset HEAD~2`
A ── B ── C ── F        (new tip after the new commit)

git reset --soft

Moves HEAD back but keeps changes staged. Safest reset option.

git reset --mixed

Moves HEAD back and unstages changes, but keeps them in working directory.

git reset --hard

⚠️ DESTRUCTIVE: Moves HEAD back and deletes all changes. Use with extreme caution!