How Do I Use Git Reset Hard Head to Revert to a Previous Commit

Git is a popular version control system that is used by software developers to manage their code and track changes.

The system makes it easy to revert to a previous version of the code in case of bugs or other issues.

In this tutorial, we will be discussing the git reset --hard HEAD command and how it can be used to revert to a previous commit.

What is git reset?

The git reset command is used to reset the state of a Git repository to a specific commit.

The command can be used to unstage changes, move the branch pointer, or even to delete commits.

The --hard option is used to reset the state of the repository to the specified commit and discard all changes made after that commit.

Why use git reset --hard HEAD?

There may be instances where you need to revert to a previous version of your code.

For example, you may have made some changes to your code that caused bugs, or you may have added some changes that you no longer need.

In these cases, you can use the git reset --hard HEAD command to revert to a previous commit and discard all changes made after that commit.

How to use git reset --hard HEAD

Before we dive into how to use the git reset --hard HEAD command, it is important to understand how Git stores information.

In Git, each commit is represented by a unique hash value, which is used to identify the commit.

To revert to a previous commit, we need to know the hash value of that commit.

Here are the steps to revert to a previous commit using git reset --hard HEAD:

  1. Open your terminal and navigate to your Git repository
  2. Use the git log command to view the commit history of your repository
  3. Find the hash value of the commit that you want to revert to
  4. Use the git reset --hard command followed by the hash value of the commit

Here is an example of the code:

$ git log
commit ca82a6dff817ec66f44342007202690a93763949
Author: John Doe <[email protected]>
Date:   Mon Mar 17 10:24:28 2020 +0530

    Update README

commit be3563a
Author: John Doe <[email protected]>
Date:   Mon Mar 17 10:21:42 2020 +0530

    Initial commit

$ git reset --hard be3563a
HEAD is now at be3563a Initial commit

Conclusion

In conclusion, the git reset --hard HEAD command is a useful tool for reverting to a previous commit in a Git repository.

The command is easy to use and can be a lifesaver in situations where you need to revert to a previous version of your code.

Just remember to use the command with caution, as it will discard all changes made after the specified commit.

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