What Is Git? Use Cases and FAQ

Key takeaways

Git is a version control system, a tool used to record and manage changes to files over time, especially in software development. A few things to know:

• Git allows multiple contributors to work on the same project, track edits, and maintain a full history of changes.

• It's commonly used to manage source code, documentation, and other development assets.

• Git is open-source, meaning you can download it and use it for free on any major operating system.

This article outlines how Git works, its core functionality, where it's used in professional environments, and how it can support personal projects. If you want a little guidance to getting started with Git right away, consider enrolling in Google's Introduction to Git and GitHub course.

What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system created to help developers track and manage changes in their code over time. Unlike older systems, Git stores data as snapshots of the entire project, enabling fast and efficient operations even on large codebases. It supports multiple workflows, allowing individuals and teams to work simultaneously while maintaining a complete history of every change made.

How does Git work?

Git tracks changes by taking snapshots of your project files at different points in time, allowing you to revisit or compare versions whenever needed. Developers make changes locally, then commit those changes as discrete units with descriptive messages. These commits form a timeline of the project’s development.

What is a Git repository?

A Git repository, or, Git repo, is where Git stores all the project files along with the entire history of changes. There are two main types: local repositories stored on a developer’s computer, and remote repositories hosted on servers or services like GitHub.

Git vs. GitHub

While Git itself handles the mechanics of managing code history, it doesn’t provide built-in features for coordinating collaboration across teams. This is where platforms like GitHub build on Git’s capabilities by offering centralized repositories and communication tools to support distributed, asynchronous teamwork.

Read more: What is GitHub? Use Cases and FAQ

What is a branch in Git?

Branches in Git provide isolated environments within a repository to develop features, fix bugs, or experiment without affecting the main codebase. Changes are saved as commits, which act like snapshots of the project at a specific point in time. When work on a branch is complete, Git allows these changes to be merged back into the main branch, combining updates from multiple contributors in a controlled way. This structure supports parallel development and helps prevent conflicts when multiple people are working on the same project.

Git commands and FAQ

The Git workflow provides flexibility and control, making it easier to manage complex projects and collaborate effectively. The following sections will explain key Git commands and address common questions to help you get started.

What is Git stash?

Git stash is a command that temporarily saves changes in your working directory that you aren’t ready to commit yet. This allows you to switch branches or perform other Git operations without losing your unfinished work. Later, you can reapply the stashed changes and continue working where you left off.

What is rebasing in Git?

Rebase is a Git operation that allows you to move or combine a sequence of commits from one branch onto another. Instead of merging branches, which creates a new “merge commit,” rebasing rewrites the project history by placing your changes on top of the target branch’s commits. This results in a cleaner, linear history, making it easier to follow the progression of changes. Rebasing is commonly used to keep feature branches up to date with the main branch before merging.

When to rebase vs. merge

Use rebasing when:

• You want to maintain a clean, linear project history.

• You’re updating a feature branch with the latest changes from the main branch before merging.

• You prefer a history that’s easier to read and understand without merge commits cluttering the log.

Use merging when:

• You want to preserve the complete context of how branches diverged and came together.

• You need a non-destructive way to combine branches, as merge commits keep the original branch history intact.

• You’re working in a team where preserving exact commit timelines is important for collaboration or auditing.

What is Git fetch?

Git fetch is a command that updates your local copy of a remote repository by downloading the latest commits, branches, and tags without merging those changes into your working files. It retrieves information about changes made by others, allowing you to review updates before integrating them into your local branch.

Git fetch vs. Git pull

Git pull fetches and merges in one step. In contrast, fetch separates these actions to give you additional control over when and how you implement remote changes.

Why is version control important?

Version control is important as it makes collaboration more transparent and reproducible. By visibly tracking iterative changes, you and your collaborators can experiment with new approaches knowing that you can revert to the original as needed. 

Version control, or source or revision control, supports code management throughout development. The team can code concurrently to address problem areas with the safety of knowing there will also be a single source of truth tracking the experimentation. The developers can resolve conflicting code with easy visibility into the different iterations. Plus, no one can permanently damage a product in development because teams can always look back at the previous versions of the code to see what changed and reverse it if necessary.

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