[*]
git commit -a means almost[*] the same thing as git add -u && git commit.
It’s not the same as git add . as this would add untracked files that aren’t being ignored, git add -u only stages changes (including deletions) to already tracked files.
[*] There’s a subtle difference if you’re not at the root directory of your repository. git add -u stages updates to files in the current directory and below, it’s equivalent to git add -u . whereas git commit -a stages and commits changes to all tracked files.