Reverting to Previous Commit- A Step-by-Step Guide to Rolling Back Your Branch in Git

How to revert branch to previous commit is a common question among developers, especially when they make a mistake or want to undo certain changes in their codebase. Whether you’re using Git, Mercurial, or another version control system, reverting to a previous commit can be a crucial step in maintaining the integrity and stability of your project. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of reverting a branch to a previous commit in various version control systems.

First, let’s start with the basics. A commit is a snapshot of your codebase at a specific point in time, and a branch is a separate line of development. To revert a branch to a previous commit, you need to ensure that you have the necessary permissions and that you’re working on a branch that you can safely modify.

In Git, reverting a branch to a previous commit is relatively straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1.

First, identify the commit hash of the commit you want to revert to. You can use the `git log` command to view the commit history and find the commit hash.

2.

Next, create a new branch from the commit hash using the `git checkout -b ` command.

3.

Now, switch to the branch you just created using the `git checkout ` command.

4.

Finally, delete the original branch using the `git branch -d ` command. This will merge the original branch into the new branch, effectively reverting it to the previous commit.

In Mercurial, the process is quite similar:

1.

Identify the revision number of the commit you want to revert to using the `hg log` command.

2.

Create a new branch from the revision number using the `hg checkout -b -r ` command.

3.

Switch to the new branch using the `hg checkout ` command.

4.

Delete the original branch using the `hg branch -d ` command. This will merge the original branch into the new branch, reverting it to the previous commit.

Remember to always backup your work before performing such operations, as reverting a branch to a previous commit can potentially delete changes that you might want to keep.

Reverting a branch to a previous commit is an essential skill for any developer. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be able to quickly and efficiently revert your branch to a desired state, ensuring that your project remains stable and error-free.