Git Recover Deleted File

Introduction

As a programmer, it's not uncommon to accidentally delete a file or two. Fortunately, Git makes it possible to recover deleted files with relative ease. In this article, we will explore the different ways to recover deleted files in Git and restore your lost work.

Recover Deleted File using Git Checkout Command

One of the easiest ways to recover a deleted file in Git is by using the git checkout command. This command allows you to restore a file from a previous commit in your Git history.

To recover a deleted file using git checkout, follow these steps:

1. Open your Git repository using your terminal or command prompt.

2. Identify the commit that contained the deleted file. You can use the git log command to view your Git history and identify the commit.

3. Once you have identified the commit, use the git checkout command to restore the file. For example, if the deleted file was called "script.js" and the commit ID was "abcd1234", you would run the following command:

git checkout abcd1234 -- script.js

4. The file should now be restored to its previous state before it was deleted.

Recover Deleted File using Git Reset Command

Another way to recover a deleted file in Git is by using the git reset command. This command allows you to reset your Git repository to a previous state, effectively restoring the deleted file in the process.

To recover a deleted file using git reset, follow these steps:

1. Open your Git repository using your terminal or command prompt.

2. Identify the commit that contained the deleted file. You can use the git log command to view your Git history and identify the commit.

3. Once you have identified the commit, use the git reset command to reset your repository to that specific commit. For example, if the commit ID was "abcd1234", you would run the following command:

git reset abcd1234

4. The repository will now be reset to the state of the specified commit, effectively restoring the deleted file.

Conclusion

Recovering a deleted file in Git may seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools, it can be a relatively simple process. By using the git checkout or git reset command, you can restore your lost work and continue with your coding as usual.