# Git Add Methods
## Git Add Lines
### `git add -e`
Select lines of changes interactively. This allows you to stage only specific lines of changes in a file.\
Pros: More control over what gets staged.
Cons: More manual work, you have to edit the patch file yourself, which can be error-prone and time-consuming.
#### Guidelines:
- The editor shows a unified diff patch of working tree changes.
- `+` lines: additions in the working tree (will be staged if kept).
- `-` lines: deletions in the working tree (will be staged if kept).
- Context lines (no prefix): unchanged lines needed for patch context.
- To stage a change: keep the `+` or `-` line in the patch.
- To NOT stage a change: **delete** the `+` or `-` line from the patch.
- To keep a line unchanged: leave context lines as-is.
- **Never change `+` or `-` to spaces or vice versa** — this breaks the patch format and causes "patch does not apply" errors.
- **To remove an added line (`+`) from being staged, delete the entire line.**
  - If you break the patch, run `git checkout -- <file>` to undo, then run `git add -e` again.
## Git Add Hunks
### `git add -p`
Select hunks of changes interactively. This allows you to stage only parts of the changes in a file.\
Pros: Easier to use than the -e method for staging specific parts of changes.\
Cons: Sometimes split won't work, which will force you to use the -e method.
#### Guidelines
- Run `git add -p <file>` or `git add -p` to go through patch hunks interactively.
- For each hunk, choose:
    - `y` to stage this hunk
    - `n` to leave it unstaged
    - `s` to split the hunk into smaller parts
    - `e` to edit the hunk manually
    - `q` to quit and leave remaining hunks unstaged
    - `a` to stage this hunk and all remaining hunks
    - `d` to leave this hunk and all remaining hunks unstaged
- If you choose `s`, Git will attempt to split the hunk into smaller hunks so you can stage a smaller section.
- If you choose `e`, Git opens the patch in a temporary editor; delete `+` or `-` lines you do NOT want staged, then save and close.
- When finished, run `git status` to verify which hunks were staged.