# Git for Beginners

## What is Git ?

Git is basically a **Version Control System** used to track the changes in the source code during software development.

Thus, Git helps developers identify what changes were made previously in the code.

Also, Git provides a feature for developers to revert (undo) the changes and go back to a previous version of their code.

### In short

1. Git is a Version Control System
    
2. Git tracks the changes in the source code during software development
    
3. Tracking helps developers see what changes were made
    
4. Git also helps to revert the changes
    

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## Why Git is used ?

As we discussed earlier, Git is used for tracking changes in files. Let's clarify in more depth why and where we use Git.

* Git is used to track all changes made in a file.
    
* In a team, if we know what changes other team members have made in a source file, it makes collaboration much easier as everyone can track each other's work.
    
* Your code history will be saved as every change gets tracked.
    
* We can try new features, and if any bug occurs, we can go back to a previous version of our software.
    

### In short

1. Making Collaboration easy
    
2. To get back to previous version if any bug or issue occurred in current version
    
3. To track our history
    

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## Git Basic and core Terminology

Now we have understood what is git and why it is used during software development, lets study Git’s some basic and terminologies

### Repository

A repository is a folder created by Git where all your code files (project files) will be present. Git will track all your changes in this repository.

### Commit

A commit is used to save changes in Git. Each commit includes a message that explains the changes and appears in the Git log.

### Branch

When a Git repository is created, the code is structured in the **Main Branch** by default. A branch represents an independent line of development. A developer can create a different branch for their own testing or to add features so it won't affect the main branch code.

### Head

**HEAD** is a pointer that refers to the **current commit** in the repository. It represents the latest commit on the branch you are currently working on.

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## Common Git Commands

Now let us understand how do we use git in our software development.

### <mark>Initialize</mark>

So to start working with Git we need a repository ( as we already discussed Git works in repository )

thus to make repository we use the following command:

`git init`

> This initialize a Repository in our working directory !

### <mark>Stage</mark>

After working on a project you want to add your files at GitHub in your repository so first add your project files in staging

To add **ALL** files from your directory to staging we use following command:

`git add .`

To add some specific files from your directory to staging we use following command:

`git add <file_name>`

> Thus the staging area prepares files to be included in the next commit.

### <mark>Status</mark>

After adding your files to staging area you can actually check status to make sure you add correct files in staging area

To do that we use following command:

`git status`

> Verification is must !

### <mark>Commit</mark>

After adding files to the staging area, the next step is to save those changes in the **local repository**.

To do that we use following command:

`git commit -m “ your_message “`

> *Adding message can tell others what changes had you made .*

### <mark>Push</mark>

To upload local commits to a remote repository like GitHub we use following command:

`git push <remote_name> <branch_name>`

You need to mention remote name ( usually its origin ) and in which branch

> You have successfully made a GitHub Repository

### <mark>History</mark>

As we have discussed earlier we can track the history of changes made in our project files

this can be done by following command:

`git log`

> It will show all Commit history made in your Repository

### <mark>Undo</mark>

To go back to your previous version of software or previous codes we can do with help of Git

It can be done by following command:

`git revert <commit_id>`

> Very helpful in software development

### <mark>Reset</mark>

To permanently delete previous changes made we use it

It can be done by following command:

`git reset --hard <commit_id>`

> The deleted data **cannot be recovered**

# *~ End*