There are two ways to add or stage the files or the changes to the git repository. Using 'git add' command, this will add the file to staging Using 'git commit -am ', the '-a' option with commit command will add the files to staging(not to 'newly added files' but only that have been modified and deleted) and commit too. basically 2 in 1, it adds then commit the files. '-m' options for providing the custom commit message.