In a Git repository, a file can be in one of the following three valid states:
* Committed: The file is saved in the local repository. It is part of the permanent history of the project.
* Modified: The file has been changed but not yet staged or committed. It is in the working directory.
* Staged: The file has been marked to be included in the next commit. It is in the staging area, ready to be committed.
These states represent the typical lifecycle of a file as it moves through the process of being edited, reviewed, and saved in Git.