Handling Filenames Starting with a Hyphen (-) in Git and Linux

This topic is not directly about Git but about Linux concepts that affect Git too. Sometimes you may create a file whose name starts with a hyphen (-). This can cause confusing errors both in Git and on the Linux command line. Let’s explore why this happens and how to fix it.

Problem Statement

Suppose you create two files using your file explorer:


-abc.txt
-b.txt

Now run:

git status

Output:

Untracked files:
  (-abc.txt)
  (-b.txt)

When you try to add them:

git add -abc.txt

Error:

error: unknown switch 'a'

Git thinks -abc.txt is a command option, not a filename.

Same Problem in Linux Commands

This is not limited to Git. For example, try creating such a file with touch:

touch -b.txt

Error again — because -b is treated as an option to touch, not a filename.

The Solution: --

Linux provides a universal solution: use double dash (--) to tell the command that everything after this is a filename, not an option.

Example with touch

touch -- -b.txt

Now list files:

ls
# -b.txt

The file is successfully created.

Example with Git

To add files starting with -:

git add -- -abc.txt -b.txt

Now they are staged correctly:

git status
# shows the files in staging area

Why Does -- Work?

In Linux and Git:

  • Before -- → command options are parsed (-a, --all, etc.).
  • After -- → everything is treated literally as a filename, even if it starts with -.

This convention is used across many tools, not just Git.

Summary

  • Filenames starting with - confuse Git/Linux because they look like options.
  • Use -- before such filenames to treat them correctly.
  • Works with touch, rm, git add, docker, and many more commands.
  • Example:
git add -- -abc.txt
touch -- -b.txt

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