What is the difference between git fetch and git pull?

[CloudberryPiSystems]

Discussion Type

Question

Discussion Content

I am learning Git and keep seeing both commands. Can someone explain how they are different?

[chethan143chiru]

The key difference is that git fetch only downloads remote changes without modifying your local working files, while git pull downloads those changes and immediately merges them into your active local branch.

[ThePhantom-S]

The use case:

• Use git fetch when you want to review progress or check for conflicts before committing to changes.
• Use git pull when you want to synchronize your environment immediately and are prepared to handle any resulting merge conflicts.

[Dusky-77]

git fetch only downloads new changes from the remote server without touching your local files, making it completely safe. git pull does both git fetch and git merge at the same time, immediately forcing those remote changes directly into your local workspace.

[Dusky-77]

git fetch only downloads new changes from the remote server without touching your local files, making it completely safe. git pull does both git fetch and git merge at the same time, forcing those remote changes directly into your local workspace.
Because git pull triggers an automatic merge, it can instantly cause merge conflicts if someone else edited the same lines of code. git fetch is safer because it lets you review the changes before you decide to merge them manually.