What is the Difference Between 'git fetch' and 'git pull'?

  • May 26, 2023
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What is the Difference Between 'git fetch' and 'git pull'?

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The main difference between 'git fetch' and 'git pull' lies in how they update the local repository with changes from a remote repository.

  • git fetch: This command retrieves the latest changes from the remote repository but does not automatically merge them into the current branch. It updates the remote-tracking branches in your local repository to reflect the state of the remote repository's branches. The fetched changes are stored locally and can be inspected or merged manually later. 'git fetch' is useful when you want to see what changes have occurred in the remote repository without immediately merging them into your work.

  • git pull: This command fetches the latest changes from the remote repository and automatically merges them into the current branch. It is essentially a combination of 'git fetch' followed by 'git merge'. 'git pull' fetches the changes from the remote repository and then incorporates them into the current branch in one step. This command is convenient when you want to quickly update your local branch with the latest changes from the remote repository and automatically merge them.

In summary, 'git fetch' only updates the remote-tracking branches in your local repository, allowing you to inspect the changes before merging. On the other hand, 'git pull' automatically fetches the changes from the remote repository and merges them into the current branch, providing a more streamlined process for updating your local branch with the latest remote changes.

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