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[PATCH v2 1/4] doc: git-reset: reorder the forms

From
D. Ben Knoble <ben.knoble+github@gmail.com>
Date
Dec 19, 2025, 00:23 UTC
Message-ID
<a558c5a8684639a2e888866a650357f54f29f2a6.1766103827.git.ben.knoble+github@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<cover.1766103827.git.ben.knoble+github@gmail.com>
From: Julia Evans <julia@jvns.ca>

From user feedback: three users commented that the `git reset [mode]` form is the one that they primarily use, and that they were suprised to see it listed last. ("I've never used git reset in any mode other than --hard").

Move it to be first, since the `git reset [mode]` form is what "Reset current HEAD to the specified state" at the beginning refers to, and because the `git reset [mode]` form is the only thing that `git reset` uniquely does, the others could also be done with `git restore`.

Signed-off-by: Julia Evans <julia@jvns.ca>
Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Signed-off-by: D. Ben Knoble <ben.knoble+github@gmail.com>
---
 Documentation/git-reset.adoc | 58 ++++++++++++++++++------------------
 1 file changed, 29 insertions(+), 29 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/git-reset.adoc b/Documentation/git-reset.adoc
index 3b9ba9aee9..9843682e81 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-reset.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-reset.adoc
@@ -8,43 +8,17 @@ git-reset - Reset current HEAD to the specified state
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
 [synopsis]
+git reset [--soft | --mixed [-N] | --hard | --merge | --keep] [-q] [<commit>]
 git reset [-q] [<tree-ish>] [--] <pathspec>...
 git reset [-q] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [<tree-ish>]
 git reset (--patch | -p) [<tree-ish>] [--] [<pathspec>...]
-git reset [--soft | --mixed [-N] | --hard | --merge | --keep] [-q] [<commit>]
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
-In the first three forms, copy entries from _<tree-ish>_ to the index.
-In the last form, set the current branch head (`HEAD`) to _<commit>_,
+In the first form, set the current branch head (`HEAD`) to _<commit>_,
 optionally modifying index and working tree to match.
 The _<tree-ish>_/_<commit>_ defaults to `HEAD` in all forms.
-
-`git reset [-q] [<tree-ish>] [--] <pathspec>...`::
-`git reset [-q] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [<tree-ish>]`::
-	These forms reset the index entries for all paths that match the
-	_<pathspec>_ to their state at _<tree-ish>_.  (It does not affect
-	the working tree or the current branch.)
-+
-This means that `git reset <pathspec>` is the opposite of `git add
-<pathspec>`. This command is equivalent to
-`git restore [--source=<tree-ish>] --staged <pathspec>...`.
-+
-After running `git reset <pathspec>` to update the index entry, you can
-use linkgit:git-restore[1] to check the contents out of the index to
-the working tree. Alternatively, using linkgit:git-restore[1]
-and specifying a commit with `--source`, you
-can copy the contents of a path out of a commit to the index and to the
-working tree in one go.
-
-`git reset (--patch | -p) [<tree-ish>] [--] [<pathspec>...]`::
-	Interactively select hunks in the difference between the index
-	and _<tree-ish>_ (defaults to `HEAD`).  The chosen hunks are applied
-	in reverse to the index.
-+
-This means that `git reset -p` is the opposite of `git add -p`, i.e.
-you can use it to selectively reset hunks. See the "Interactive Mode"
-section of linkgit:git-add[1] to learn how to operate the `--patch` mode.
+In the last three forms, copy entries from _<tree-ish>_ to the index.
 
 `git reset [<mode>] [<commit>]`::
 	This form resets the current branch head to _<commit>_ and
@@ -98,6 +72,32 @@ but carries forward unmerged index entries.
 	the submodules' `HEAD` to be detached at that commit.
 --
 
+`git reset [-q] [<tree-ish>] [--] <pathspec>...`::
+`git reset [-q] [--pathspec-from-file=<file> [--pathspec-file-nul]] [<tree-ish>]`::
+	These forms reset the index entries for all paths that match the
+	_<pathspec>_ to their state at _<tree-ish>_.  (It does not affect
+	the working tree or the current branch.)
++
+This means that `git reset <pathspec>` is the opposite of `git add
+<pathspec>`. This command is equivalent to
+`git restore [--source=<tree-ish>] --staged <pathspec>...`.
++
+After running `git reset <pathspec>` to update the index entry, you can
+use linkgit:git-restore[1] to check the contents out of the index to
+the working tree. Alternatively, using linkgit:git-restore[1]
+and specifying a commit with `--source`, you
+can copy the contents of a path out of a commit to the index and to the
+working tree in one go.
+
+`git reset (--patch | -p) [<tree-ish>] [--] [<pathspec>...]`::
+	Interactively select hunks in the difference between the index
+	and _<tree-ish>_ (defaults to `HEAD`).  The chosen hunks are applied
+	in reverse to the index.
++
+This means that `git reset -p` is the opposite of `git add -p`, i.e.
+you can use it to selectively reset hunks. See the "Interactive Mode"
+section of linkgit:git-add[1] to learn how to operate the `--patch` mode.
+
 See "Reset, restore and revert" in linkgit:git[1] for the differences
 between the three commands.
 
-- 
2.52.0.rc0.365.g9bf09b728d.dirty
Previous: D. Ben KnobleNext: D. Ben Knoble
Message 21 of 39 in “doc: git-reset: clarify DESCRIPTION section”
  1. 0/4 doc: git-reset: clarify DESCRIPTION sectionJulia Evans via GitGitGadget, Oct 17, 2025
  2. 1/4 doc: git-reset: reorder the formsJulia Evans via GitGitGadget, Oct 17, 2025
  3. Junio C HamanoOct 17, 2025
  4. Julia EvansOct 20, 2025
  5. 2/4 doc: git-reset: clarify introJulia Evans via GitGitGadget, Oct 17, 2025
  6. Junio C HamanoOct 17, 2025
  7. Julia EvansOct 20, 2025
  8. Junio C HamanoOct 20, 2025
  9. D. Ben KnobleOct 20, 2025
  10. Julia EvansDec 3, 2025
  11. 3/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset [mode]`Julia Evans via GitGitGadget, Oct 17, 2025
  12. Junio C HamanoOct 18, 2025
  13. Julia EvansOct 20, 2025
  14. D. Ben KnobleOct 20, 2025
  15. Junio C HamanoOct 20, 2025
  16. 4/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset <pathspec>`Julia Evans via GitGitGadget, Oct 17, 2025
  17. Junio C HamanoOct 17, 2025
  18. Ben KnobleOct 18, 2025
  19. Junio C HamanoOct 18, 2025
  20. 0/4 doc: git-reset: clarify DESCRIPTION sectionD. Ben Knoble, Dec 19, 2025
  21. 1/4 doc: git-reset: reorder the formsD. Ben Knoble, Dec 19, 2025
  22. 2/4 doc: git-reset: clarify introD. Ben Knoble, Dec 19, 2025
  23. 3/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset [mode]`D. Ben Knoble, Dec 19, 2025
  24. 4/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset <pathspec>`D. Ben Knoble, Dec 19, 2025
  25. Junio C HamanoDec 30, 2025
  26. D. Ben KnobleJan 1, 2026
  27. 0/4 doc: git-reset: clarify DESCRIPTION sectionD. Ben Knoble, Jan 1, 2026
  28. 1/4 doc: git-reset: reorder the formsD. Ben Knoble, Jan 1, 2026
  29. 2/4 doc: git-reset: clarify introD. Ben Knoble, Jan 1, 2026
  30. Jean-Noël AVILAJan 2, 2026
  31. 3/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset [mode]`D. Ben Knoble, Jan 1, 2026
  32. Jean-Noël AVILAJan 2, 2026
  33. 4/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset <pathspec>`D. Ben Knoble, Jan 1, 2026
  34. 0/4 doc: git-reset: clarify DESCRIPTION sectionD. Ben Knoble, Jan 5, 2026
  35. 1/4 doc: git-reset: reorder the formsD. Ben Knoble, Jan 5, 2026
  36. 2/4 doc: git-reset: clarify introD. Ben Knoble, Jan 5, 2026
  37. 3/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset [mode]`D. Ben Knoble, Jan 5, 2026
  38. 4/4 doc: git-reset: clarify `git reset <pathspec>`D. Ben Knoble, Jan 5, 2026
  39. Junio C HamanoJan 7, 2026

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