# Git for Beginners: Basics and Essential Commands

## Introduction

If you are a web developer, then Git is a very important tool for you.  
With the help of Git, we can manage our code, view its history, and work easily with a team.

In this article, we will learn Git at a complete beginner level.

## Git

**Git is a Version Control System (VCS). It keeps a record of every change in your project, allowing you to go back to any previous version at any time.  
Its functions are:**

* Tracking changes made in the code
    
* Keeping a backup of the code
    
* Providing the ability to revert to older versions
    

## Use of Git

• **Security:** If a mistake happens, you can easily return to the previous correct version.  
• **Clarity:** It tracks who made what changes and when.  
• **Convenience:** It helps teams easily sync their work and develop new features separately.

**Git is a standard tool in the software industry.**

## Git Basics and Core Terminologies

Repository (Repo):  
This is the main folder or database of your project, where all project files and their complete history are stored.

**Local Repository:**  
The copy that exists on your computer.

**Remote Repository:**  
The copy that is hosted on an online server such as GitHub or GitLab, which other team members can also access.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1767161757841/615ae9ef-19aa-4892-9612-a5aeebacfcee.png align="center")

**Working Directory:**  
This is the place where you write the actual code.  
 **Meaning:**

* HTML, CSS, JS files, txt.
    
* Files that are currently being edited
    

**Staging Area:**  
The staging area is a temporary area.  
 Here you decide:

* Which files will go into the commit
    

Files are added here using the git add command.

**Commit:**  
A commit means saving the code (a snapshot).  
Every commit has a message.  
In the future, this becomes your history.  
Files are committed using the command:  
git commit -m "any message"

**Branch:**  
A branch is an independent line of development.  
It allows you to work on a new feature or bug fix separately from the main project, so the main code is not affected.

**Merge:**  
When the work on a branch is completed, adding it back into the main branch is called a merge.

**Push:**  
Sending code from the local system to GitHub.

**Pull:**  
Bringing the latest code from GitHub to your local system.

## Common Git Commands

**Git commands are instructions that tell Git:**

* What to do
    
* When to save
    
* Where to send the code
    

### 1\.  git init

To start Git in a project:

It creates a hidden folder named .git

It is used only once in each project.

`git init`

### 2\. git status

**To check the current status of files:**  
      It tells you:

* Which files are modified
    
* Which files are staged
    
* Which files are untracked
    

`git status`

### 3\. git add

**To send files to the staging area:**

**For a single file:**

`git add <File Name>`

### 4\. git commit

**To save the code:**

* Always do it with a message
    
* The message should be clear
    

`git commit -m "add any message”`

### 5\. git log

To view the history of all commits made so far.

`Git log`

**It shows:**

Commit ID , Author , Date , Message.

### 6\. git branch

To view or create a branch.

**To view all branches:**

`git branch`

**To create a new branch:**

`git branch feature-login`

### 7\. git merge

To merge a branch into the main branch:

`git merge feature-login`

### 8\. git remote

To check the remote repository (GitHub):

`git remote -v`

### 9\. git push

To send code from the local system to GitHub:

`git push origin main`

### 10\. git pull

To get the latest code from GitHub:

`git pull origin main`