# Git for Beginners: Basics and Essential Commands

### What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system. It is designed to efficiently manage and track changes in source code during the software development process.

### Why git is used?

Git is used to solve multiple problems of software development lifecycle

* Track & Manage changes in source code
    
* Collaboration between developers/stakeholders
    
* Branching & Merging of source code.
    
* Distributed Architecture
    

### Git Basics & Core Terminologies

Git is widely used Version Control System which help tracking the code changes. It acts like a “time machine” for source code.

The following are the core terminologies for Git

* **Repo/Repository** - a repository is the main project folder that Git tracks. It contains all project files and the complete version history.
    
* **Working Directory** \- The local directory on your computer where you will changes the code
    
* **Staging Area** \- It is a waiting area where you will put the modified files before comming it.
    
* **Commit** - The commit is a snapshot or save point of a project. Each commit has a unique ID, an author, a timestamp and a message explaining the changes made.
    
* **Branch** - An independent line of development. Branching allows developers to work on new features or bug fixes without affecting the main codebase, keeping the main branch stable.
    
* **Head** \- A pointer that indicates your current position in the project's history.
    
* **Merge** \- The process of integrating changes from one branch to other branch.
    
* **Remote** \- It is a secondary copy of the project/repository which is hosted on an external server.
    

### Common Git commands

Here is the list of common git commands:

1. `git init`: Initializes Git tracking in a local project folder, making it a repository.
    
2. `git status`: Shows the current state of the working directory and staging area (which files are modified, staged, or untracked).
    
3. `git add <file>` / `git add .`: Stage specific file changes or all changes in the current directory for the next commit.
    
4. `git commit -m "message"`: Records the staged changes as a permanent snapshot in the repository with a descriptive message.
    
5. `git log`: Displays the history of commits for the current branch.
    
6. `git push`: Uploads your local commits to a remote repository.
    
7. `git pull`: Fetches changes from a remote repository and merges them into your current local branch.
    

The commands are listed in the same sequence in which they are used.

### Basic Flow of git commands

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1770978414007/1f589477-50f2-4689-a989-bdecae5577ae.png align="center")