What is Git? Git Commands, Repositories, Branches and Workflow

Did You Know: In 2024, approx 87.2% of developers globally use Git, making it the most widely used version control system. 

If you're wondering, "What is Git?" it's a powerful tool that helps manage code changes, track history, and collaborate with others. Git empowers developers by offering a flexible, distributed approach to version control, enabling seamless collaboration, faster iteration, and complete control over project history. From handling simple tasks to complex workflows, Git is essential in any modern development environment.

This blog will guide you through the fundamentals of Git, covering commands, repositories, branches, and the overall workflow. You’ll learn practical skills to streamline your development process and collaborate more efficiently.

What is Git

The full form of Git is "Global Information Tracker." It is a distributed version control system that allows developers to manage their code. It tracks changes in files, allowing multiple people to work on a project simultaneously without losing any data. 

With Git, each user has a complete history of the project on their local machine, meaning they don’t rely on a central server for version control. In simple terms, it enables smooth collaboration, even across different time zones.

Its distributed nature, efficiency, and support for branching make it an indispensable tool for both solo and team-based projects.

To dive deeper into Git’s functionality, let's look at some key features:

• Track changes: Git records each change made to the files, providing a detailed history.
• Branching and Merging: You can create different branches for working on features and later merge them back into the main codebase without losing any work.
• Collaboration: Multiple team members can work independently, and Git ensures all their work is synchronized.

Understanding the power behind Git requires knowing why it has become a standard in software development. So, let’s explore the reasons why Git is so important.

Why Is Git Important?

When you learn what is Git, it’s important to recognize that it offers an unmatched level of control and ease in software development. If you are working on a project with others or even on your own, Git will help you stay organized and productive.

Here are some critical reasons why Git is essential in the software development:

• Efficient Collaboration: 

Git enables multiple developers to work on different parts of a project simultaneously without conflicts. Developers can create branches for separate features and merge them later. In case of merge conflicts, Git clearly identifies differences, allowing developers to resolve issues before merging changes into the main branch.

• Version Control:

Git allows easy rollback to previous versions, making it simple to fix bugs by reverting to a stable state. It also tracks each change in detail, so developers can identify the root of issues and improve code quality over time.

• Code Integrity:

Git’s detailed commit history ensures all changes are traceable. Each commit includes metadata, like author, timestamp, and message, providing a clear, consistent record of the code's evolution. This traceability ensures code reliability and helps maintain project integrity.

With a basic understanding of Git, let’s now compare it with other version control systems to see how it stands out.

Git vs Other Version Control Systems (VCS)

Git stands apart from other version control systems (VCS) due to its distributed nature. Unlike centralized VCS like Subversion (SVN), Git allows each user to have a complete local copy of the project repository. Git’s distributed nature ensures that work can continue offline, making it ideal for remote development.

When comparing Git with other systems, consider the following differences:

• Git vs SVN:
• • In SVN, the project’s history is stored in a central repository, and developers need a continuous connection to the server to commit or retrieve changes. 
  • This can slow down development in environments with unreliable connectivity. 
  • Git’s distributed model allows each user to work offline, committing locally and only syncing with the central repository when needed. 
  • Additionally, Git’s branching and merging capabilities are much more powerful and flexible compared to SVN.
• Git vs Mercurial:
• • Both Git and Mercurial are distributed systems, but Git’s wider adoption has led to a larger community and more comprehensive ecosystem of tools and integrations. 
  • Git is often preferred for its robust branching and merging capabilities, which are critical for managing large and complex projects. 
  • In contrast, Mercurial tends to have a simpler, more user-friendly interface but lacks the same level of support and flexibility in managing branches and merges that Git offers.
• Git vs CVS:
• • CVS is an older version control system and struggles with modern software development needs. 
  • Unlike Git, which has full branching and merging capabilities, CVS doesn’t handle branching effectively. 
  • This makes tasks like feature development and bug fixing much harder to manage, as CVS lacks true branching support. 
  • Additionally, CVS is slower when working with large codebases because it lacks the performance optimizations Git has, especially when dealing with large repositories or binary files.

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Git's popularity stems from its scalability, handling everything from small apps to large enterprise systems. Let's explore its benefits in software development.

Advantages of Git for Developers

The adoption of Git in software development brings numerous advantages that significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. From preventing data loss to promoting faster code deployment, Git’s advantages are broad and indispensable.

As you move forward in your journey of learning what is Git, understanding its tangible advantages is essential for recognizing why developers worldwide trust this tool. 

Here are some practical advantages Git provides in practical development scenarios:

Also Read: What is Github? and How to Use it?

Having covered what is Git, let’s explore its most important features.

Key Features of Git

Git’s key features, including distributed version control, branching, data integrity, and speed, provide developers with powerful tools to manage complex projects. These features enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and ensure code integrity in modern software development.

1. Distributed Version Control

One of the most powerful features of Git is its distributed nature. Unlike centralized version control systems, each developer using Git has their own local copy of the entire repository. This allows developers to work offline and independently, as they have access to the full history of the project right on their local machine.

The key benefit of this distributed structure is its reliability and flexibility. When you ask “What is Git?” understanding its distributed version control system is crucial. It ensures that each developer’s work remains secure, even if the central server fails. Every user has a complete history of the project on their machine, which makes data loss less likely.

Here’s why distributed version control is essential:

• Independence: Developers can make changes to their local repositories and only sync with the central server when necessary.
• Fault Tolerance: If the central server goes down, developers can continue working without interruption.
• Better Collaboration: Developers can share changes asynchronously, and Git will manage the merging of those changes efficiently.

As Git is a distributed system, it is important to see how it handles branching and merging. Let’s explore how Git excels in this area.

2. Branching and Merging

Git allows developers to create separate branches, each representing a distinct line of development. Branches are crucial for managing tasks like adding features, fixing bugs, or preparing releases without affecting the main codebase. This isolation reduces the risk of conflicts and errors.

Branching is key to effective collaboration, enabling multiple developers to work on different tasks simultaneously. For instance, one developer can work on a new login system while another focuses on payment integration. Once their tasks are completed, they can merge their changes back into the main branch, keeping the codebase organized and conflict-free.

When you learn “What is Git,” you realize that these capabilities significantly improve collaboration and productivity in software projects.

Here are the main advantages of branching and merging in Git:

• Isolated Work: Developers can create new branches to work on specific tasks, such as adding features or bug fixes, without affecting the main project. For example, a developer might work on a login system branch, ensuring that the main code remains stable while development is in progress.
• Easy Integration: Once a task is complete, Git makes it simple to merge the changes from different branches back into the main branch. Git automatically handles the merging process when possible and highlights any merge conflicts when the changes can’t be automatically combined. This allows developers to review and resolve conflicts manually, ensuring a smooth integration.
• Parallel Development: Multiple developers can work independently on different branches at the same time. This parallel development ensures that developers don’t overwrite each other’s work and that each task remains focused and isolated, making collaboration more efficient.

Now, let's move on to discuss how Git’s performance is optimized by being lightweight and fast.

3. Lightweight and Fast

Git is designed to be extremely fast and efficient, making it ideal for both small and large projects. The system operates locally, which significantly boosts performance. Git commands are executed almost instantly, even when working with large repositories.

When asking "What is the full form of Git?" understanding its speed and efficiency is essential. Git is optimized to handle massive amounts of data and complex codebases without sacrificing speed. As projects grow, Git ensures that performance remains consistent.

Here are some reasons why Git is both lightweight and fast:

• Local Operations: Since most operations are performed locally, there is no need to wait for network communication with a server.
• Efficient Storage: Git uses a compression algorithm to store data efficiently, reducing the size of repositories and improving speed.
• Optimized Algorithms: Git’s core algorithms are designed to minimize disk space usage and time consumption when dealing with changes.

Next, let's explore how Git ensures data integrity and security in software projects.

4. Data Integrity and Security

Git guarantees data integrity by using cryptographic hashing algorithms. Every change made in Git is recorded with a unique identifier, ensuring that no data is tampered with or corrupted. This is crucial for maintaining the accuracy and trustworthiness of a project’s history.

Understanding the importance of data integrity is key to answering "What is Git." It ensures that developers can track every change with certainty. Git's robust design helps maintain the security of your project files throughout development.

Here’s how Git ensures data integrity and security:

• SHA-1 Hashing: Every commit in Git is identified by a unique SHA-1 hash. This makes it impossible to alter a commit without changing its hash.
• Verifiable History: Every change is traceable and verifiable. You can see exactly who made changes, when, and why.
• Secure Authentication: Git uses methods like SSH keys and token-based authentication to ensure that only authorized users can access and contribute to repositories, protecting the integrity of the codebase.

Also Read: A beginner's guide to GitHub

Let’s now look at another important feature: the staging area in Git.

5. Staging Area

The staging area in Git is where changes are prepared before they are committed to the repository. It acts as a buffer, allowing you to review changes before finalizing them. This gives you more control over your project, as you can decide which changes should be committed and which should not.

The staging area is essential to understanding "What is Git" because it ensures that only intentional changes are added to the project history. You can add specific files or changes to the staging area, leaving other modifications untouched.

Key points about the staging area:

• Selective Commit: You can stage specific files or parts of files, which gives you control over what’s committed.
• Review Changes: The staging area lets you review your changes before committing, helping to prevent mistakes.
• Control Over Commit History: This feature allows you to build clean commit histories that are easy to understand and trace.

Now, let’s explore how Git is open source and free, which makes it even more accessible for developers.

6. Open Source and Free

Git is an open-source tool, meaning it’s free to use and its source code is available for anyone to inspect and modify. This openness fosters a large community of contributors who continuously improve Git and create plugins and integrations.

When you look at “What is Git,” its open-source nature allows developers to freely access and use the tool without any licensing costs. It has become the standard in version control systems due to this accessibility and the collaborative nature of its development.

Advantages of Git being open-source:

• No Licensing Costs: Git is completely free to use, making it accessible to all developers.
• Community Support: A large community contributes to Git’s improvement. If you encounter an issue, there's a high chance someone else has already solved it.
• Customizability: Developers can modify the source code to suit their specific needs.

Finally, Git integrates seamlessly with popular platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. Let's explore this compatibility.

7. Compatibility with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket

Git is compatible with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, which allow for cloud-based repository management. These platforms provide additional features like issue tracking, continuous integration, and collaboration tools that enhance Git's capabilities.

These platforms are built specifically to work with Git, enabling developers to store their code online and collaborate with other developers. With GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, developers can push and pull code, track issues, and manage pull requests efficiently.

Key benefits of Git compatibility with these platforms:

• Remote Repositories: You can host your Git repositories online, making it easier to collaborate with others.
• Integration with CI/CD: Platforms like GitLab integrate seamlessly with continuous integration and deployment pipelines.
• Collaboration Tools: These platforms provide tools for team collaboration, such as issue tracking, pull requests, and code reviews.

Want to become an expert in Git and version control? Sign up for upGrad’s Online Software Development Courses and gain hands-on experience with the tools that power modern software development. Start learning today!

Also Read: What is the Difference Between GitHub and GitLab?

With these features in mind, let's dive into how Git works in practice through its workflow.

Git Workflow – How Does Git Work?

Git workflow covers the steps of managing changes in a repository, from editing files in the working directory to committing, pushing, and pulling changes. Understanding these processes is crucial for effectively using Git in both individual and collaborative environments.

1. Working Directory

The working directory is where you make changes to your project files. It is the local directory on your computer where you work on your project’s source code. Changes made here are not yet tracked by Git. This is where you write new code, modify existing files, or delete unnecessary ones before you add them to the staging area.

When you ask “What is Git?” the working directory is one of the first steps in the workflow. It serves as the starting point for your edits. The changes in the working directory are local, meaning they are not yet reflected in Git’s tracking system.

Key features of the working directory:

• Local Editing: You can freely edit files without worrying about committing them immediately.
• Track Changes: Once you’ve made changes, you can use Git commands to check the status of the files (e.g., git status).
• Ready for Staging: Files in the working directory need to be staged before they can be committed to the local repository.

Once changes are made in the working directory, they need to be moved to the staging area. Let’s discuss the staging area next.

2. Staging Area

The staging area is where you prepare your changes before committing them to the local repository. It acts as a checkpoint where you decide which changes should be included in the commit. Git doesn’t automatically commit all the changes in the working directory; instead, you select the changes you want to include in your commit by adding them to the staging area.

Knowing how to stage changes is crucial when learning Git commands. For instance, when you run git add <file>, it moves your file from the working directory to the staging area.

Important aspects of the staging area:

• Selective Staging: You can decide which files or parts of files to stage. For example, you might stage only specific changes in a large file instead of the entire file.
• Preview Changes: Before committing, you can preview what’s staged by using git diff --staged.
• Commit Readiness: Only staged changes will be included in your next commit, ensuring you have control over what goes into your version history.

After staging, the next step is committing. Let’s move on to understanding how the local repository fits into the Git workflow.

3. Local Repository

The local repository is where Git stores the history of your project. After you stage changes, you commit them to the local repository. This creates a snapshot of your files at that point in time. The local repository contains all the commits that represent the history of your project, and it is saved on your local machine.

Committing is a fundamental part of learning Git commands. When you run git commit -m "message", you are saving the staged changes into your local repository, and Git records this in its history.

Key aspects of the local repository:

• Commit History: Each commit represents a snapshot of the project’s state. You can view the history using git log.
• Local Version Control: The local repository tracks all changes made to the project, allowing you to roll back to previous versions if needed.
• Working Independently: Changes made in your local repository are private until you decide to share them with others by pushing them to a remote repository.

Once the changes are committed locally, they are ready to be pushed to a remote repository. Let’s look at how remote repositories fit into the Git workflow.

4. Remote Repository

A remote repository is a version of your project hosted on a server or a cloud platform like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. This is where you share your changes with others. The remote repository contains the latest version of the project that can be accessed by collaborators, and it acts as the central point of collaboration.

To upload your local commits to the remote repository, you use the git push command. This ensures that your changes are available to other team members who are working on the project.

Here’s what you should know about remote repositories:

• Collaboration: Developers working on a project can push and pull changes to/from the remote repository.
• Syncing Work: The remote repository keeps everyone on the same page, ensuring that all contributors are working with the most up-to-date version of the project.
• Common Platforms: Remote repositories are typically hosted on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket, where you can also track issues, create pull requests, and review code.

Next, let’s explore the commands that help you commit, push, and pull changes in the Git workflow.

5. Commit, Push, and Pull 

These three fundamental Git commands form the backbone of the Git workflow. Understanding how to commit, push, and pull changes will enable you to work efficiently with Git.

The process of committing, pushing, and pulling is straightforward but crucial for collaborative development.

• Commit (git commit): This command records your changes in the local repository. It is used after staging your files, and you can add a message to describe the changes. For example, git commit -m "Fixed issue with user login" ensures a clear commit history.
• Push (git push): Once your local commits are ready, you push them to the remote repository. For example, git push origin main will upload your commits to the main branch of your project’s remote repository.
• Pull (git pull): This command is used to fetch and merge changes from the remote repository to your local machine. For example, git pull origin main will pull the latest changes from the main branch of the remote repository.

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Also Read: How to Become a Software Engineer in India: A 2025 Guide to Success

To better understand Git, let’s examine the key commands used in its workflow.

Commands in Git

Git commands allow developers to configure, manage repositories, work with branches, and commit and push changes. These commands are the backbone of Git’s functionality, enabling developers to perform key tasks such as initializing a repository, creating branches, and synchronizing with remote repositories.

Git Configuration Commands

Git configuration commands are essential for setting up and customizing your Git environment. These commands allow you to define user information, set up repositories, and customize how Git behaves on your machine. Configuring Git correctly is important for efficient usage, as it ensures all your actions are properly tracked.

The first command you need to know in this category is git config. Let’s look at it in detail.

git config – Configure Git Settings

The git config command is used to set Git settings such as your username, email, and default editor. This is important for tracking who is making changes to the project and ensuring that your commits are correctly attributed to you.

Before making any commits, you’ll need to configure your username and email. These settings can be applied globally (for all repositories) or locally (for a specific repository).

Common git config uses include:

• Set username and email: To set your global username and email, run:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"  
git config --global user.email "youremail@example.com"

These settings ensure that all your commits are properly attributed to your identity.

• Set default editor:By default, Git uses a terminal-based text editor to write commit messages. You can set your preferred editor by running:

git config --global core.editor "nano"

• In this example, Nano is set as the default editor. However, if you prefer other editors like vim, atom, or VS Code, you can configure Git to use them:

git config --global core.editor "vim"  # For vim
git config --global core.editor "atom --wait"  # For Atom
git config --global core.editor "code --wait"  # For VS Code

• The --wait flag is used with GUI-based editors (like Atom or VS Code) to ensure Git waits until you finish editing the commit message before proceeding.

By customizing these settings, you ensure that your Git environment aligns with your preferences, making your development process smoother and more efficient.

Now that you’ve configured your Git environment, you may need help understanding Git commands. The next command helps you with that.

git help – Display Git Help Commands

The git help command provides access to Git’s built-in manual, offering interactive and detailed information about any Git command. This is especially useful for beginners or developers who want to learn about the syntax, flags, options, and usage of specific commands directly from the terminal.

Here’s how to use git help:

• To display help for any command, run:
  git help <command>

For example:

git help commitThis will bring up an interactive, detailed guide on the git commit command, explaining how it works, what options you can use, and best practices.

Once you’ve configured Git and learned how to access help, the next step is working with repositories. Let’s explore Git repository commands.

Git Repository Commands

Git repository commands are used to initialize, clone, and manage repositories. These are crucial for setting up your project and ensuring you can work with other team members by accessing repositories remotely.

Now, let's look at the commands you need to manage your repositories.

git init – Initialize a Repository

The git init command is used to create a new Git repository. When you run this command, Git initializes a .git directory, which contains all the necessary files for version control. This is the first step in creating a new Git project.

For example, 

if you want to create a new repository, run:

git init  

• This will initialize a new Git repository in the current directory.

When you create a repository with git init, it starts tracking changes in that directory. The next command, git clone, is used when you need to clone an existing repository.

git clone – Clone an Existing Repository

The git clone command creates a local copy of a repository from a remote server. It is often used to collaborate with others on existing projects. After cloning, you can make changes locally and push them back to the remote repository.

For example, to clone a repository from GitHub, run:

git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git  

• This command downloads the entire repository, including its history, to your local machine.

Now that you know how to manage repositories, it’s time to explore branching. Git branching commands help you create and manage branches in your repository.

Advanced Git Commands

For advanced workflows or troubleshooting, Git offers several powerful commands. While this blog doesn't delve into them in-depth, understanding these commands can provide significant value.

• git rebase: Reapplies commits from one branch onto another, helping maintain a linear commit history.
• git cherry-pick: Allows you to apply specific commits from one branch onto another.
• git stash: Temporarily saves changes that aren’t ready to commit, allowing you to work on something else without losing your progress.

For more details on these advanced commands, check out Git's official documentation or explore tutorials that focus on advanced Git workflows.

Git Branching Commands

Git branching commands are essential for working with different versions of your project. Branches allow you to work on new features, bug fixes, or experiments without affecting the main project.

Understanding how to create and switch between branches is key to mastering Git. Let’s dive into the relevant commands.

git branch – Create or List Branches

The git branch command is used to create new branches or list existing ones. This command is crucial when you want to organize your work into separate features or fixes.

For example, to create a new branch, you can use:

git branch new-feature  

• This command creates a new branch called new-feature. To list all the branches in your repository, simply run:

git branch  

• This will display all the available branches, with an asterisk (*) next to the currently active branch.

Now that you know how to create branches, let’s see how to switch between them.

git checkout – Switch Branches

The git checkout command allows you to switch between branches. This command is essential when you want to move to a different branch to work on a new feature or bug fix.

For example, to switch to a branch called new-feature, use:

git checkout new-feature  

• You can also create and switch to a new branch in one command:

git checkout -b new-feature  

• This creates the new-feature branch and switches to it immediately.

Also Read: Git Checkout: Restoring Files And Advanced Usage

Once you’ve worked on a branch and are ready to integrate changes, you need to merge the branches. Let’s look at the merge command.

git merge – Merge Branches

The git merge command is used to combine changes from one branch into another. It is commonly used to bring the changes from a feature branch into the main branch, like main or master.

For example, if you are on the main branch and want to merge changes from the new-feature branch, you can run:

git merge new-feature  

• Git will try to automatically merge the changes. If there are any conflicts, it will notify you to resolve them.

Once you've created your branch and made the necessary changes, the next step is to commit those changes and push them to a remote repository.

Git Commit and Push Commands

Git commit and push commands allow you to save your changes to your local repository and share them with others by pushing them to a remote repository. These are essential for tracking changes and collaborating effectively.

Let’s take a closer look at the key commands.

git add – Add Files to Staging

The git add command stages your changes for the next commit. Before you commit changes, you must add them to the staging area. This tells Git which changes to include in the commit.

For example, 

1. to add a single file:

git add filename.txt  

2. To add all modified files, use:

git add .  

• This stages all the changes in the current directory.

Next, after staging the files, you can commit them to your local repository.

git commit – Save Changes to Local Repository

The git commit command saves your staged changes to your local repository. Each commit creates a snapshot of your changes, and it includes a message describing what was changed.

For example, to commit your changes, use:

git commit -m "Added new feature"  

• This command creates a commit with the message “Added new feature,” describing the changes you made.

After committing, you need to push the changes to the remote repository.

git push – Send Changes to Remote Repository

The git push command is used to upload your local commits to a remote repository. This is crucial for sharing your work with collaborators.

For example, to push your changes to the main branch, run:

git push origin main  

Also Read: Top 28 Git Commands for Developers in 2025

Here is an overview of some useful commands with example usage:

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After learning basic Git commands, let's explore how branching works in Git to manage your workflow.

Git Branches

Git branches allow developers to work on separate versions of a project without affecting the main codebase. This section covers how to create, merge, and delete branches, and how to resolve conflicts when working with branches in collaborative environments.

1. What Are Git Branches?

Git branches are powerful tools that allow you to work on multiple versions of a project simultaneously. A branch is essentially a pointer to a specific commit in the repository’s history, and it lets you isolate changes until they are ready to be merged back into the main project. Branches help developers to experiment with new features or fix bugs without affecting the main codebase.

When you ask “What is Git?” understanding branches is key to understanding how Git helps streamline development workflows. Git branching enables flexibility and safety, allowing changes to be made in parallel without risking the stability of the main codebase.

Here are the main concepts of Git branches:

• Independent Work: Each branch is independent, allowing multiple developers to work on different features or fixes without interfering with each other.
• Default Branch: The default branch is usually called main (or master in older repositories). New branches diverge from this main branch.
• Branching History: Git tracks the history of each branch separately, so you can work on different aspects of a project without losing track of any changes.

Once you understand what branches are, you will likely need to create or delete them. Let’s explore how to create and delete branches in Git.

2. Creating and Deleting Branches

Creating and deleting branches is an essential part of Git’s branching functionality. Understanding how to create a branch is key to working on isolated features or fixes. Similarly, deleting branches helps keep the project clean and organized when they are no longer needed.

If you are wondering "How to create branch in Git," here are the steps:

Creating a Branch:

To create a new branch in Git, use the git branch command. 

For example, to create a branch called new-feature, run:git branch new-feature  

• This command creates the new branch but does not switch to it. To switch to the newly created branch, use the git checkout command.

Creating and Switching to a Branch:

You can combine creating and switching to a branch in a single command:git checkout -b new-feature  

•  This both creates the branch and switches to it immediately.

Deleting a Branch:

After finishing work on a branch, you may want to delete it. Use the git branch -d command to delete a branch safely. For example:git branch -d new-feature  

• This deletes the branch new-feature only if it has already been merged. To force delete a branch, use:

Now that you know how to create and delete branches, the next step is to understand how to merge and rebase branches. Let’s dive into that.

3. Merging and Rebasing Branches

Merging and rebasing are essential processes in Git for combining changes from different branches. These operations help integrate work done in isolated branches back into the main project.

Merging Branches: 

The git merge command is used to combine changes from one branch into another. 

For example, 

if you want to merge the new-feature branch into main, run:git checkout main  

git merge new-feature  

•  This merges the new-feature branch into the main branch. If the branches diverged, Git may ask you to resolve any conflicts.

Rebasing Branches: 

Rebasing is another method of integrating changes from one branch into another. It is often used to maintain a cleaner, linear project history. 

To rebase the new-feature branch onto the latest main, run:git checkout new-feature  

git rebase main  

•  Rebasing moves the entire new-feature branch to begin from the latest commit on the main branch. This can make the project history more straightforward, but it’s important to be cautious with rebasing on public branches.

Merging and rebasing are both powerful tools, but the choice of which to use depends on the project’s needs and team preferences. Next, let’s explore how to resolve conflicts when merging or rebasing branches.

4. Resolving Branching Conflicts

Conflicts may arise when merging or rebasing branches if Git is unable to automatically reconcile differences between files. Resolving conflicts is a key skill for developers working with Git. Understanding how to identify and fix conflicts will help keep your workflow smooth.

Identifying Conflicts:

When a conflict occurs, Git will mark the conflicting sections of the file and stop the merge or rebase process. 

For example, 

after running git merge, Git may display something like: Auto-merging file.txt  

CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in file.txt  

Resolving Conflicts:

Open the conflicted file and look for conflict markers, such as: <<<<<<< HEAD  

[Your code]  

=======  

[Their code]  

>>>>>>> branch-name  

You will need to manually edit the file to resolve the differences. After resolving the conflicts, mark the file as resolved by staging it with: git add file.txt

Completing the Merge: Once all conflicts are resolved and the changes are staged, complete the merge with:git commit  

•  This creates a new merge commit.

If you’re working with a rebase, use the following to continue after resolving conflicts:

git rebase --continue  

Understanding Git branches lays the foundation for appreciating GitHub's collaborative features.

Why Use Git with GitHub?

GitHub enhances Git by offering a cloud-based platform for hosting repositories, enabling collaboration, and automating workflows with GitHub Actions. It provides a robust environment for version control, code sharing, and continuous integration, making it a vital tool for developers.

GitHub as a Hosting Platform

GitHub provides a cloud-based hosting platform for Git repositories. It allows you to store and manage your code online, making it accessible from anywhere. With GitHub, you can back up your local repositories, ensure version control, and securely store your projects. This platform plays a crucial role in modern development workflows, especially for collaboration and sharing code.

When you ask, “What is Git?” integrating it with GitHub offers a more powerful solution. GitHub enhances Git by providing an easy-to-use interface and features like issue tracking, pull requests, and more. By using Git and GitHub together, you gain both the local version control of Git and the remote capabilities of GitHub.

Here are the key features of GitHub as a hosting platform:

• Cloud Storage: GitHub hosts your Git repositories remotely, so your project is backed up and easily accessible.
• Public and Private Repositories: GitHub offers both public repositories, which are open-source, and private repositories for personal or proprietary code.
• Forking and Cloning: You can fork repositories to work on your own copy and clone them to your local machine for development.
• Web Interface: GitHub’s user-friendly web interface makes managing repositories and viewing changes simple.

Now that you understand GitHub’s role as a hosting platform, the next step is looking at how GitHub fosters collaboration and code sharing.

Collaboration and Code Sharing

GitHub is specifically designed to promote collaboration and code sharing. It facilitates easy access to repositories, allowing developers to contribute to each other’s projects. Whether you are working on open-source software or collaborating within a team, GitHub’s features make teamwork smooth and efficient.

Knowing how Git commands work with GitHub is key to unlocking GitHub’s full potential. By pushing changes to GitHub and collaborating with others, you can keep everyone in sync and contribute to shared codebases.

Key collaboration features on GitHub include:

• Pull Requests: When you make changes on a branch, you can open a pull request to propose merging those changes into the main branch. Team members can review and discuss the changes before they are merged.
• Code Review: GitHub supports inline code comments during code reviews, making it easier to provide feedback on specific lines of code.
• Issues: GitHub allows you to create issues to track bugs, features, or tasks, providing a structured approach to project management.
• Collaborators and Teams: You can add collaborators to a repository or organize team members with specific roles for more organized collaboration.

By understanding how GitHub facilitates collaboration, you will be able to work on projects with others seamlessly. Now, let’s take a closer look at GitHub Actions and how it automates workflows.

GitHub Actions for Automation

GitHub Actions is a powerful feature that automates workflows within GitHub repositories. It enables you to set up continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, automate testing, and deploy code. GitHub Actions can significantly enhance your development workflow by saving time and reducing the potential for human error.

If you are familiar with Git commands, integrating them with GitHub Actions enables you to automate tasks such as code linting, building, and testing every time you push a change. This automation improves efficiency and ensures that the code is always tested and ready for deployment.

Here are some key ways GitHub Actions can be used for automation:

• Continuous Integration: Set up automated testing every time code is pushed to the repository. For example, you can create an action that runs unit tests on every pull request.
• Continuous Deployment: Automatically deploy your application to a hosting platform like AWS or Heroku once the code is merged into the main branch.
• Custom Workflows: Create workflows for tasks like running linters, formatting code, or even sending notifications when changes are made.
• Scheduled Tasks: Run tasks at specified times, such as backing up your repository or sending reminders to complete tasks.

Also Read: How to Use GitHub: A Beginner's Guide to Getting Started and Exploring Its Benefits in 2025

As software development progresses, GitHub Actions will support increasingly complex workflows, becoming an integral part of CI/CD pipelines for both small and large projects.

Conclusion

To wrap up, Git combined with GitHub offers unmatched advantages for efficient collaboration and version control. Understanding Git commands, repositories, branches, and workflows equips you with the tools needed to work efficiently in both solo and team-based environments.

To solidify your understanding and ensure you can apply these concepts confidently, consider practicing these Git commands and workflows. Apply them to personal projects or contribute to open-source repositories to gain hands-on experience.

For personalized guidance on mastering Git and enhancing your development career, schedule a 1:1 counseling session with upGrad experts or visit nearby upGrad offline center to further enhance your software development skills. 

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FAQs

1. Why Is It Called Git?

Git's name was coined by its creator, Linus Torvalds. "Git" is a British slang term meaning "fool" or "stupid," and Torvalds humorously named it that, as he initially thought the tool would not be successful. Git is also an acronym for "Global Information Tracker."

2. What Is the First Branch in Git?

The first branch in Git is typically the master branch (now often renamed to main for inclusivity). It is the default branch created when a new Git repository is initialized and serves as the primary branch for stable code in many projects.

3. Where Is Git Used?

Git is widely used in software development, enabling version control across industries such as web development, data science, and mobile app development. It helps developers track changes, collaborate, and manage codebases efficiently, especially in teams and open-source projects.

4. How to Create and Manage Branches in Git?

To create a branch in Git, use git branch <branch-name>. To switch between branches, use git checkout <branch-name>. To merge changes from one branch to another, use git merge <branch-name>. You can delete branches using git branch -d <branch-name> after merging.

5. What Are Git and Basic Commands?

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in code. Basic Git commands include git init (initialize a repository), git add (stage changes), git commit (save changes), and git push (upload changes to a remote repository).

6. What Is Git vs GitHub?

Git is a version control system used to track changes in code, while GitHub is a cloud-based platform that hosts Git repositories. GitHub adds features like collaboration, code review, issue tracking, and CI/CD pipelines, enhancing the Git workflow for developers and teams.

7. Can I Use Git Without GitHub?

Yes, Git can be used independently of GitHub. While GitHub is a popular platform for remote Git repository hosting, Git allows developers to work with local repositories without relying on any external hosting platform. You can also use alternatives like GitLab or Bitbucket.

8. Does Git Require Coding?

No, Git itself doesn’t require programming knowledge. It is a tool used to manage and track changes in code. While you use Git commands to manage repositories, it doesn’t require coding expertise. However, knowledge of programming helps understand how Git is used in development workflows.

9. How Do I Delete a Branch in Git?

To delete a branch in Git, use git branch -d <branch-name> for a safe deletion, which ensures the branch has been merged. If you want to force delete a branch, use git branch -D <branch-name>. This removes the branch locally but does not affect the remote version.

10. What Is Git for Beginners?

Git for beginners involves understanding its core concepts like commits, branches, and repositories. You should start with basic commands like git init, git add, and git commit. Git helps beginners track code changes and collaborate with others effectively, even with minimal programming experience.

11. What Language Is Used in Git?

Git is primarily written in C, which makes it a highly efficient and fast tool for version control. Some parts of Git are also written in other languages like Perl and Shell scripting for specific functionalities, but C is the backbone of its performance and speed.