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.

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