What is the difference between pull and fetch in Git?

Key takeaways

• Git fetch retrieves updates from a remote repository and stores them in the local repository without altering the working directory, making it suitable for reviewing changes before merging.

• Git pull obtains updates and immediately applies them to the working directory, effectively combining fetching and merging, which can introduce merge commits.

• To maintain a cleaner commit history, it's advisable to use git pull --rebase, which reapplies local changes on top of the latest commits without creating unnecessary merge commits.

In Git, fetch and pull are two commands used to update local copies of a remote repository, but they serve different purposes and operate in slightly different ways. Understanding the difference between Git fetch and pull is crucial for effective Git workflow management. It allows you to:

• Control the merging process: Decide when and how to integrate remote changes into your local branch.

• Avoid merge conflicts: By using Git fetch to review changes before merging, you can identify potential conflicts and resolve them proactively.

• Maintain a clean commit history: Using Git pull with the --rebase option can help you avoid unnecessary merge commits, making your commit history easier to follow and understand.

• Collaborate effectively: Understanding how Git fetch and pull work enables you to collaborate seamlessly with other developers and synchronize your local repository with the remote repository.

Git fetch

In the fetch operation, updates from a remote repository are retrieved and stored in the local repository alongside the record of committed changes. We can use git fetch when we're uncertain about merging the updated code with our branch. In situations where we simply want to examine the new changes without immediately integrating them into our work, fetch serves as a safe operation. It allows us to observe what's transpiring in the remote repository without impacting our working directory.

Commands

• The command given below will allow us to fetch all the branches and the required commits and files:

• The command given below will only fetch the changes of the specified branch:

Following is the pictorial representation of the working of git fetch:

Git pull

In the git pull operation, updates from a remote repository are not only obtained and stored in the local repository, but they are also immediately applied to the working directory. pull is a combination of fetching and either merging or rebasing. It retrieves changes from a remote repository and directly integrates them into the working directory.

This approach is the preferred method for updating your local branch with changes from a corresponding remote branch. However, it's important to note that this process may introduce mergeA process of combining changes from different branches into a single branch, which can result in merge commits that record the integration of those changes. commits, potentially making the commit history more detailed. The pull operation is particularly useful when you wish to promptly synchronize your branch with known changes and are prepared to merge them into your code.

To avoid creating unnecessary merge commits and maintain a cleaner, linear commit history, you might prefer using git pull --rebase instead of the default merge strategy. With git pull --rebase, your local changes are temporarily set aside while the upstream changes are applied and then your changes are reapplied on top of them. This approach effectively avoids merge commits and keeps the commit history linear, making it easier to review and understand the project's evolution.

Commands

• The command below will fetch the specified remote's copy of the current branch and immediately merge it into the local copy. It is the combination of  git fetch ＜remote＞ followed by git merge origin/＜current-branch＞.

• The command below will fetch and merge the remote content without creating any merge commit:

• This command will rebaseRebase is a process that reapplies your local commits on top of the latest changes from the remote branch, creating a linear and clean commit history. the fetched content instead of merging it:

Following is the pictorial representation of the working of git pull:

Summary of differences

Quiz

Before moving on to the conclusion, test your understanding.

Conclusion

In Git, git fetch and git pull both update your local repository, but serve different purposes. git fetch retrieves changes without altering your working directory, making it ideal for reviewing updates before merging. git pull combines fetching and merging, directly integrating changes into your code. For a cleaner commit history, using git pull --rebase is recommended, as it applies your changes on top of the latest commits, avoiding unnecessary merge commits.