Git Glossary

  • Commit: (noun) A recorded version of your project. (verb) To record a new version of your project.

  • Repository (or repo): where your files are stored, can be on your computer (local) or on GitHub’s servers (remote).

  • git clone: copy a remote repository locally

  • git status: shows what is in staging and was is being commited.

  • git add file_name: moves a file to staging.

  • git commit -m "Detailed log message goes here.": commits files in staging to history and documents message to the log.

  • git push: send local commits to a remote repository

  • git fetch: retrieve commits from a remote repository (GitHub)

  • git merge: merge remote commits with local changes

  • git diff: display the difference between working and committed file

  • git log: shows the history of commits

  • HEAD: identifier that points to the most recent local commit

  • .gitignore: a file where you can list files you want left out of version control