What is the purpose of the '-a' option when adding files to the Git index?

The purpose of the '-a' option when adding files to the Git index is to add all changes to the index. This means that when you use the '-a' flag, Git stages all modified and deleted files in the working directory for the next commit. This option is particularly useful because it streamlines the process of preparing changes for committing without needing to individually specify each file.

In the context of version control with Git, staging changes means that you're marking specific modifications to be included in the next commit, allowing for more organized and intentional updates to the repository. This makes it easier to manage larger sets of changes, as you can include all modifications at once without going through the process of staging each file individually.

The other options describe different functionalities not associated with the '-a' flag in Git. Committing changes refers to using the 'git commit' command, which finalizes the changes that have been staged. The idea of an urgent update and the action of removing files from the index do not apply to the 'add' command with the '-a' option, as it is specifically used for adding changes rather than removing or committing.