Solving Common Git Error: "Your local changes would be overwritten by merge" – How to Fix It?

When encountering the "Your local changes would be overwritten by merge" error during `git merge`, it is because there are uncommitted modifications in your local branch. Git prevents the merge to avoid data loss. Solutions (in recommended order): 1. **Stash Changes (Recommended)**: Use `git stash` to save uncommitted modifications. After merging, use `git stash pop` to restore them (or `git stash apply` to retain the stash). 2. **Commit Changes First (Safe)**: Stage changes with `git add .`, commit them with `git commit`, then merge (suitable for scenarios where modifications are valuable). 3. **Discard Changes (Caution)**: Reset the working directory with `git reset --hard HEAD` (permanently loses uncommitted changes; confirm they are unnecessary first). If conflicts occur after merging, manually edit conflicted files (marked with `<<<<<<<` etc.), resolve them, then run `git add` and commit. ⚠️ Note: Prioritize stashing or committing. Always back up changes before discarding them. Confirm the necessity of changes before operation to avoid data loss.