git cherry [-v] [<upstream> [<head> [<limit>]]]
The changeset (or "diff") of each commit between the fork-point and <head> is compared against each commit between the fork-point and <upstream>. The commits are compared with their patch id, obtained from the git patch-id program.
Every commit that doesn't exist in the <upstream> branch has its id (sha1) reported, prefixed by a symbol. The ones that have equivalent change already in the <upstream> branch are prefixed with a minus (-) sign, and those that only exist in the <head> branch are prefixed with a plus (+) symbol:
__*__*__*__*__> <upstream>
/
fork-point
\__+__+__-__+__+__-__+__> <head>
If a <limit> has been given then the commits along the <head> branch up to and including <limit> are not reported:
__*__*__*__*__> <upstream>
/
fork-point
\__*__*__<limit>__-__+__> <head>
Because git cherry compares the changeset rather than the commit id (sha1), you can use git cherry to find out if a commit you made locally has been applied <upstream> under a different commit id. For example, this will happen if you're feeding patches <upstream> via email rather than pushing or pulling commits directly.
-v
<upstream>
<head>
<limit>
git-patch-id(1)
Written by Junio C Hamano <m[blue]gitster@pobox.comm[][1]>
Documentation by Junio C Hamano and the git-list <m[blue]git@vger.kernel.orgm[][2]>.
Part of the git(1) suite