What's the difference between git reset --mixed, --soft, and --hard?

Question

I\'m looking to split a commit up and not sure which reset option to use.

I was looking at the page In plain English, what does "git reset" do?, but I real

Answer 1

All the other answers are great, but I find it best to understand them by breaking down files into three categories: unstaged, staged, commit:

• --hard should be easy to understand, it restores everything
• --mixed (default) :
  1. unstaged files: don't change
  2. staged files: move to unstaged
  3. commit files: move to unstaged
• --soft:
  1. unstaged files: don't change
  2. staged files: dont' change
  3. commit files: move to staged

In summary:

• --soft option will move everything (except unstaged files) into staging area
• --mixed option will move everything into unstaged area