Understanding Git's HEAD Pointer: The Underlying Logic of Version Rollback

HEAD is a special pointer in Git that marks the current version's position, by default pointing to the latest commit of the current branch, acting as a "coordinate" for the timeline. It is closely associated with branches and by default follows the branch to its latest commit. Version rollback essentially involves modifying the HEAD pointer to jump from the current version to a historical version, at which point the branch will also move accordingly. For example, after rolling back to historical version B, the workspace state updates synchronously, and a new commit will generate a new version, advancing the branch forward. It is important to note the following when performing the operation: avoid rolling back pushed versions to prevent collaboration confusion; directly pointing to a historical commit will put you in a "detached HEAD" state, which requires manual handling. HEAD is a core element of version control, and understanding its role enables clear management of version iterations and rollbacks.

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