What does git checkout do?
The git checkout command in Git is a versatile tool that allows users to navigate between branches, view old commits, and switch between different versions of a target entity, such as files, commits, and branches. When used on branches, it updates the files in the working directory to match the version in the specified branch, and it also updates the HEAD to point to the specified branch, allowing users to work on that branch. Additionally, it can be used to create branches, switch branches, and checkout remote branches.
It is important to note that when using git checkout to pull down a previously committed file into the working directory, any local changes made to the file will be overwritten by the most recently-committed version of the file. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using this command to avoid unintentionally losing local changes.
In summary, git checkout is a fundamental tool in Git operations, enabling users to manage branches, navigate between different versions of files, commits, and branches, and work on specific branches.
