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🪖Commits in Detached HEADMedium+500 XP
Scenario reference

Commits in Detached HEAD: the situation, step by step

The situation

You ran `git checkout <hash>` to look at an old version, then 'just made a quick fix' and committed. Now Git warns about leaving the commit behind.

Detached HEAD commits are orphans until you branch from them.

Medium · 3 steps · +500 XP

What you will practice

This scenario walks through 3 steps, in order:

  1. 01Check out an older commit (detaches HEAD)
  2. 02Create a branch to save the work
  3. 03Confirm with log
Reveal the step-by-step commands

Try the terminal first — you learn more by doing. When you want to check yourself, here is the command for each step.

  1. 1. Check out an older commit (detaches HEAD)
    git switch --detach HEAD~2
  2. 2. Create a branch to save the work
    git switch -c rescue-branch
  3. 3. Confirm with log
    git log --oneline

Key takeaway

Always `git switch -c <name>` before committing in detached HEAD.

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