What is the Difference Between GIT Pull and GIT Fetch

The main difference between GIT Pull and GIT Fetch is that GIT Pull command downloads the changes in the remote repository and merges those changes and store them on the local repository while GIT Fetch command allows retrieving the changes made in the remote repository without merging them. 

It is important to use a version control system when developing a large software program. It helps to track the modifications done to the source code. GIT is a popular version control system that saves the state of the project in repositories – each time a change is made. Moreover, it is secure, robust, fast and lightweight. GitHub is a web-based hosting service for GIT version control repository. Fetch and Pull are two commands in GIT.

Key Areas Covered

1.  What is GIT Pull
      – Definition, Functionality
2. What is GIT Fetch
      – Definition, Functionality
3. Difference Between GIT Pull and GIT Fetch
      – Comparison of key differences

Key Terms

GIT, GIT Pull, GIT Fetch, Web Based Hosting

What is GIT Pull

A repository is a data space to store all the files related to a project. Each developer can have their own private workspace as a working copy. It is called the local repository. They can transfer the changes to the remote repository. Then, the developer can perform the operations on these repositories as required.

The GIT Pull command downloads the changes in the remote repository and combine those changes and store them on the local repository. Furthermore, this command is useful when the developer wants to update the repository with the changes made to the remote repository. Moreover, GIT pull is similar to performing GIT Fetch first and then performing GIT merge.

What is GIT Fetch 

GIT helps to store the changes as snapshots. When the developer performs some changes to the code, GIT takes a snapshot and stores them. These changes are called commits. The push command helps to store these changes in the remote repository. Moreover, GIT Fetch command allows retrieving the changes made in the remote repository and storing them in the local machine. However, it does not make any changes to the local repository.

Difference Between GIT Pull and GIT Fetch

Definition

GIT Pull is a GIT command that downloads the latest changes from the remote repository and automatically merges those changes in the local repository. GIT Fetch, on the other hand, is a GIT command that pulls down the code from the remote repository to track branches in the local repository. 

Functionality

Thus, the main difference between GIT Pull and GIT Fetch is that the GIT Pull command downloads the changes in the remote repository and merges those changes and store them on the local repository while GIT Fetch command retrieves the changes made in the remote repository without merging them.

Association

GIT Pull is similar to GIT Fetch followed by GIT Merge.  However, GIT Fetch is a simple command.

Usage

Moreover, GIT Pull command allows the developer to bring changes to the local code repository and to update it. GIT Fetch, in contrast, command allows the developer to know the commits pushed by other developers before integrating them with the local repository. Hence, this is also a difference between GIT Pull and GIT Fetch.

Conclusion

GIT Pull and GIT Fetch are two GIT commands. The main difference between GIT Pull and GIT Fetch is that GIT Pull command downloads the changes in the remote repository and merges those changes and store them on the local repository while GIT Fetch command allows retrieving the changes made in the remote repository without merging them.  In brief, GIT Pull does a GIT Fetch followed by a GIT merge.

References:

1.“Git-Pull Documentation.” Git, Available here.
2.Atlassian. “Git Remote | Atlassian Git Tutorial.” Atlassian, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1.”Logo for Git” By Jason Long – (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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