Definition
Plain language
The files on disk you're currently editing in a project.
As stated in the literature
The checked-out state of a Git repository as opposed to its commit history; removing a file from the working tree does not remove it from earlier commits.
Also called: working directory
Why it matters: Confusing the working tree with the full repository is how people think they have removed something — a secret, an answer key — that is still there for anyone who looks back.
For example, deleting a file from your project folder makes it vanish from your editor, but a colleague can still pull up its contents from last month's commit.
Heard on the show
“copytree` — just copy the whole working directory N times.”Episode 068 — The OS Trick That Makes Tree Search Practical for Coding Agents