--short::
Give the output in the short-format.
+-b::
+--branch::
+ Show the branch and tracking info even in short-format.
+
--porcelain::
Give the output in a stable, easy-to-parse format for scripts.
Currently this is identical to --short output, but is guaranteed
where `PATH1` is the path in the `HEAD`, and ` -> PATH2` part is
shown only when `PATH1` corresponds to a different path in the
-index/worktree (i.e. renamed).
-
-For unmerged entries, `X` shows the status of stage #2 (i.e. ours) and `Y`
-shows the status of stage #3 (i.e. theirs).
-
-For entries that do not have conflicts, `X` shows the status of the index,
-and `Y` shows the status of the work tree. For untracked paths, `XY` are
-`??`.
+index/worktree (i.e. the file is renamed). The 'XY' is a two-letter
+status code.
+
+The fields (including the `->`) are separated from each other by a
+single space. If a filename contains whitespace or other nonprintable
+characters, that field will be quoted in the manner of a C string
+literal: surrounded by ASCII double quote (34) characters, and with
+interior special characters backslash-escaped.
+
+For paths with merge conflicts, `X` and 'Y' show the modification
+states of each side of the merge. For paths that do not have merge
+conflicts, `X` shows the status of the index, and `Y` shows the status
+of the work tree. For untracked paths, `XY` are `??`. Other status
+codes can be interpreted as follows:
+
+* ' ' = unmodified
+* 'M' = modified
+* 'A' = added
+* 'D' = deleted
+* 'R' = renamed
+* 'C' = copied
+* 'U' = updated but unmerged
+
+Ignored files are not listed.
X Y Meaning
-------------------------------------------------
[MD] not updated
M [ MD] updated in index
A [ MD] added to index
- D [ MD] deleted from index
+ D [ M] deleted from index
R [ MD] renamed in index
C [ MD] copied in index
[MARC] index and work tree matches
? ? untracked
-------------------------------------------------
+If -b is used the short-format status is preceded by a line
+
+## branchname tracking info
+
+There is an alternate -z format recommended for machine parsing. In
+that format, the status field is the same, but some other things
+change. First, the '->' is omitted from rename entries and the field
+order is reversed (e.g 'from -> to' becomes 'to from'). Second, a NUL
+(ASCII 0) follows each filename, replacing space as a field separator
+and the terminating newline (but a space still separates the status
+field from the first filename). Third, filenames containing special
+characters are not specially formatted; no quoting or
+backslash-escaping is performed. Fourth, there is no branch line.
CONFIGURATION
-------------