Visual studio line colors

Question

In Visual Studio, what does the vertical color bar between the line numbers and the code mean? Sometimes there is green, yellow, or nothing.

Answer 1

Nothing means no changes.

Green means saved changes. These will disappear when the file is closed and reopened.

Bright yellow means unsaved changes. These change to green when the file is saved.

Dark yellow means unsaved undos (i.e. you've made and edit and then hit Ctrl+Z). These disappear when the file is saved.

Answer 2

The line indicates changes to code since last save.

• No color = no change
• Yellow = Track changes before save
• Green = Track changes after save