git mv Command

The git mv command is used to move or rename files in a Git repository. It performs the move or rename operation and stages the change for the next commit. This command simplifies the process of tracking file movements and renames in Git.

What Does git mv Do?

When you run git mv, Git performs the following actions:

1. Moves or Renames Files: It moves or renames files in the working directory.
2. Stages the Change: It stages the file move or rename so that it will be included in the next commit.

Basic Syntax

git mv <source> <destination>

• <source>: The path to the file or directory you want to move or rename.
• <destination>: The new path for the file or directory.

Examples

Rename a Single File

To rename a file from oldname.txt to newname.txt:

git mv oldname.txt newname.txt

This command renames the file and stages the change.

Move a File to a New Directory

To move a file from its current location to a new directory:

git mv file.txt new-directory/file.txt

This moves file.txt to new-directory and stages the move.

Rename and Move a File

To rename and move a file in one command:

git mv old-directory/oldname.txt new-directory/newname.txt

This moves oldname.txt from old-directory to new-directory and renames it to newname.txt.

Move Multiple Files

To move multiple files to a new directory:

git mv file1.txt file2.txt new-directory/

This command moves file1.txt and file2.txt to new-directory.

Handling the Changes

After using git mv, you should commit the changes to finalize the move or rename operation:

git commit -m "Rename and move files"

This creates a commit that records the file moves or renames.

Important Notes

• Tracking Moves and Renames: Git automatically tracks moves and renames as a combination of file deletion and creation. By using git mv, you make it easier for Git to track these changes properly and ensure they are reflected correctly in the commit history.

• Alternative Approach: You can also manually move or rename files using standard file system commands and then stage the changes with git add:

  mv oldname.txt newname.txt
  git add newname.txt
  git rm oldname.txt
  

  However, using git mv simplifies this process by combining the operations.

Summary

• Purpose: git mv is used to move or rename files and directories within a Git repository and stages these changes for the next commit.
• Basic Syntax: git mv <source> <destination>
• Usage: Use git mv to streamline the process of moving or renaming files, ensuring that these changes are properly tracked by Git.

The git mv command is a convenient way to manage file organization and naming within your repository, making it easier to maintain a clean and well-organized project structure.