How do I undo the most recent local commits in Git?

To undo the most recent local commits in Git, use one of the following methods based on your goal:

1. Undo the Last Commit and Keep Changes (Unstage Files)

git reset HEAD~1
# Or equivalently:
git reset --mixed HEAD~1

• What it does:
• Removes the last commit from history.
• Changes are preserved in your working directory (unstaged).
• Use case: You want to rework the commit (e.g., split or amend it).

2. Undo the Last Commit and Keep Changes Staged

git reset --soft HEAD~1

• What it does:
• Removes the last commit.
• Changes remain staged (ready to recommit).
• Use case: You want to re-commit the same changes with adjustments.

3. Completely Remove the Last Commit (Discard Changes)

git reset --hard HEAD~1

• What it does:
• Deletes the last commit and all its changes permanently.
• Use case: You want to discard the commit entirely (irreversible!).

4. Undo a Commit by Creating a New Reverting Commit

git revert HEAD

• What it does:
• Creates a new commit that reverses the changes from the last commit.
• Preserves the original commit history (safe for shared branches).
• Use case: You want to undo a commit that’s already been pushed to a remote repository.

Examples

Undo the last 2 commits and keep changes unstaged:

git reset HEAD~2

Undo the last commit and discard changes:

git reset --hard HEAD~1

Revert the last commit (creates a new undo commit):

git revert HEAD

Key Notes

• git reset alters history (use only for local commits).
• git revert is safer for shared/public commits (preserves history).
• Recovering lost commits: Use git reflog if you accidentally reset a commit.

When to Use Which

Goal	Command
Rework the last commit	git reset --soft HEAD~1
Unstage changes from the last commit	git reset HEAD~1
Permanently discard the last commit	git reset --hard HEAD~1
Safely undo a pushed commit	git revert HEAD

By choosing the right method, you can undo commits safely and effectively!