What does it mean to 'stash' changes in Git?

Stashing changes in Git allows you to temporarily save modifications that you’ve made to your working directory but are not ready to commit. This feature is particularly useful when you want to switch contexts quickly or pull from the repository without losing your current work. When you stash your changes, Git creates a new stash entry that includes the changes made to tracked files and the state of the working directory. This allows you to revert to a clean state, work on something else, and later retrieve your stashed changes with the ability to continue from where you left off.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of stashing in Git. Permanently deleting changes or backing up the entire repository are not actions associated with stashing. Stashing is also not related to archiving old branches, as branches deal with evolution and development of features or bug fixes rather than managing temporary changes in the working directory.