HEAD

Lesson in the Git and GitHub Roadmap · Stage 12: History

Last updated 14 September 2026

What is HEAD?

The HEAD file is at the core of how Git knows the SHA-1 of the last commit when running commands like git branch <branch>. It serves as a symbolic reference, pointing to the current branch. However, in rare cases, HEAD can contain the actual SHA-1 value of a Git object, such as when checking out a tag, commit, or remote branch, which puts your repository in a "detached HEAD" state.

Study this in the interactive course See the whole Git and GitHub roadmap

Free resources to learn HEAD

Official docsGit Internals - Git References - The HEAD
VideoLearn Git Essentials: Head & Detached Head

HEAD: common questions

Can I learn HEAD in Hindi?

This lesson is written in English. Once you sign in, open it in the interactive course and ask the AI tutor to explain HEAD in Hindi or Hinglish. The tutor answers from this lesson’s own text, so it stays on the syllabus, and it runs on your own Google, OpenAI or Anthropic key.

Is this HEAD tutorial for beginners?

It is lesson 70 of 155 in the free Git and GitHub roadmap, in stage 12, History. If you are new to Git and GitHub, start from stage 1 and come back here in order; if you already know the earlier stages, this lesson stands on its own.