git rebase - what's the difference between 'edit' and 'reword'

Question

What's the difference between edit and reword when you do a git rebase?

I'm going through some docs which say this:

Replace pick with:
- edit to mark a commit for amending.
- reword to change the log message.

I just typed the exact title of this question into Google! +1 for useful title. — shoover
– shoover, Commented Jan 15, 2016 at 18:30

Chris Maes · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-12 15:13:33Z

80

"reword" allows you to change ONLY the commit message, NOT the commit contents
"edit" allows you to change BOTH commit contents AND commit message (the mechanism by which git allows you to edit the commit contents is by "pausing" the rebase; so you can amend the commit)

reference : The git-rebase documentation says this:

edit : By replacing the command "pick" with the command "edit", you can tell git rebase to stop after applying that commit, so that you can edit the files and/or the commit message, amend the commit, and continue rebasing.
reword : If you just want to edit the commit message for a commit, replace the command "pick" with the command "reword".

answered May 12, 2015 at 15:13

Chris Maes

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1 Comment

Does the name of original committer changes if reword is used?

SLaks · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-15 13:06:05Z

30

edit will pause the rebase entirely, allowing you to change files in the commit and/or the commit message.

reword will simply open an editor to let you change the commit message only.

answered May 12, 2015 at 15:09

SLaks

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