How to Reset HEAD in Git

Git is a decentralized version control system that is used to perform multiple operations during the development of a project on a shared repository, such as making new branches, deleting branches, merging branches, and resetting HEAD as per user requirements. These actions can be performed through different available Git commands.

This study will demonstrate how to reset HEAD in Git.

How to Reset HEAD in Git?

When users work on a shared repository, at some point, they realize that the data or the added information is not correct, and it needs to be modified. If that’s the case, you may require removing many lines from their files and resetting them. In simple words, you can say that it is needed to reset the changes that were just made. This technique is known as “reset to HEAD”.

To understand the working of the above-discussed technique, let’s move to the below-provided instructions.

Step 1: Navigate to Git Repository

First, navigate to the Git local repository using provided command:

$ cd "C:\Users\nazma\demo_folder\update"

Step 2: Check Log

Then, execute the “git log” command to check the current branches and their commits:

$ git log --oneline --graph

Below output indicates that we have only one branch named “master” and currently HEAD is placed at the most recent commit “bffda7e” with the message “update files”:

Step 3: Reset HEAD

Now, reset the HEAD position to the previous commit by utilizing the “git reset” command. Here, we have used the “–hard” option, which will leave the untracked files of the current working directory:

$ git reset --hard HEAD^

As you can see, the position of HEAD is changed and reset to the previous commit:

Step 4: Check Log

Again, check the log status to verify the changed position of HEAD:

$ git log --oneline --graph

That’s all! We have efficiently explained the method of resetting the HEAD in Git.

Conclusion

To reset the HEAD in Git, first, open the Git Bash terminal and navigate to the Git local repository. Then, check the current branches of the Git local repository and their commits using the “$ git log” command. After that, execute the “git reset –hard HEAD^” command to reset the position of HEAD. In this study, we have demonstrated the procedure of resetting HEAD in Git.

How to Reset HEAD in Git