Checking Out a Previous Commit

• Git allow you move to older commits to inspect or test code
• Checking out a commit hash puts Git in detached HEAD

• In detached HEAD:

  • can view/run the code
  • New commits are not on any branch

• To keep changes, create a new branch from that commit

Commands

git checkout <hash>     # Detach HEAD at a specific commit (can create a new branch from here)
git checkout HEAD~2     # View the state 2 commits before HEAD
git checkout main       # Re-attach HEAD to a branch
git reflog              # Show history of HEAD movements (branch changes, commits, resets)
git restore <filename>  # Restore file to last committed version