Git Revert Explained — Difference Between Reset and Revert

In the previous blog, we looked at git reset and saw how --soft, --mixed, and --hard behave.
Now let’s move on to git revert, another important command for undoing changes.

We’ll cover:

What git revert does.
How it differs from git reset.
When to use revert vs reset.
Real-world examples.

Project Setup

Let’s assume a repo with four commits:

git log --oneline

e91a2c4 (HEAD -> main) 4th commit (file4.txt)
a3f8b71 3rd commit (file3.txt)
62c559b 2nd commit (file2.txt)
1f92b10 1st commit (file1.txt)

📂 Files currently:

file1.txt
file2.txt
file3.txt
file4.txt

Using `git revert`

Suppose we realize the 4th commit (adding file4.txt) was a mistake.

Step 1: Run revert

git revert HEAD

Git will open your editor for a commit message (default: Revert "4th commit"). Save and exit.

Step 2: Check the log

git log --oneline

e1b2f9a (HEAD -> main) Revert "4th commit"
e91a2c4 4th commit
a3f8b71 3rd commit
62c559b 2nd commit
1f92b10 1st commit

📂 Files now:

file1.txt
file2.txt
file3.txt

✅ A new commit was added that cancels the changes introduced in the 4th commit.

Reverting an Older Commit

You can also revert older commits.

For example, revert the 2nd commit:

git revert HEAD~2

This creates a new commit that removes file2.txt.

👉 Files after revert:

file1.txt
file3.txt

Difference Between Reset and Revert

Feature	`git reset`	`git revert`
What it does	Moves the branch pointer back	Creates a new commit that undoes previous commit(s)
Commit history	Old commits can disappear (rewrites history)	History remains intact (new commit added)
Safe for shared repos?	❌ Not safe after pushing	✅ Safe (keeps history clean)
Use case	Fix local mistakes before pushing	Undo a commit that’s already shared

When to Use What?

Use git reset → If the commits are local only, not pushed to remote.
Use git revert → If the commits are already pushed and shared with a team.

Summary

git reset moves the pointer back, can rewrite history.
git revert creates a new commit that undoes previous changes, preserving history.
In team projects, always prefer revert for safety.

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