git_flashcards

Question 1

Term

Answer 1

Definition

Question 2

Version Control

Answer 2

System that tracks changes to files over time so you can recall specific versions later. Lets multiple people work on the same code without overwriting each other’s work.

Question 3

Git

Answer 3

Distributed version control system where every developer has full copy of repository. Most popular version control system used in software development.

Question 4

Repository (Repo)

Answer 4

Folder that contains your project files and the entire history of changes. Can be local on your computer or remote on services like GitHub.

Question 5

Commit

Answer 5

Snapshot of your project at a specific point in time. Includes a message describing what changed and why.

Question 6

Branch

Answer 6

Separate line of development that lets you work on features without affecting main code. Allows multiple people to work on different features simultaneously.

Question 7

Merge

Answer 7

Combines changes from one branch into another. Brings your feature work back into the main codebase.

Question 8

Pull Request (PR)

Answer 8

Request to merge your changes into another branch. Allows team to review code before it gets merged.

Question 9

Clone

Answer 9

Creates a local copy of a remote repository on your machine. Downloads entire project history and files.

Question 10

Push

Answer 10

Uploads your local commits to a remote repository. Shares your work with others.

Question 11

Pull

Answer 11

Downloads changes from remote repository and merges them into your local branch. Updates your code with other people’s work.

Question 12

Fetch

Answer 12

Downloads changes from remote repository but doesn’t merge them. Lets you see what changed before deciding to merge.

Question 13

Staging Area (Index)

Answer 13

Intermediate area where you prepare commits. Lets you choose which changes to include in next commit.

Question 14

Working Directory

Answer 14

Folder on your computer where you make changes to files. Your actual project files you’re editing.

Question 15

Remote

Answer 15

Version of your repository hosted on the internet or network. Usually on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.

Question 16

Origin

Answer 16

Default name for the remote repository you cloned from. Shorthand so you don’t have to type full URL every time.

Question 17

HEAD

Answer 17

Pointer to the current branch and commit you’re on. Tells git where you are in the project history.

Question 18

Main (or Master)

Answer 18

Default primary branch where production-ready code lives. Used to be called master, now commonly called main.

Question 19

Checkout

Answer 19

Switches between branches or restores files from history. Changes what code you’re looking at in working directory.

Question 20

Stash

Answer 20

Temporarily saves uncommitted changes so you can work on something else. Useful when you need to switch branches but aren’t ready to commit.

Question 21

Merge Conflict

Answer 21

Happens when git can’t automatically combine changes from different branches. You have to manually decide which changes to keep.

Question 22

Rebase

Answer 22

Moves or combines commits from one branch onto another. Rewrites commit history to make it cleaner.

Question 23

Tag

Answer 23

Marks specific point in history as important. Usually used for release versions like v1.0 or v2.3.

Question 24

.gitignore

Answer 24

File that tells git which files or folders to ignore. Prevents accidentally committing sensitive data or build files.

Question 25

Fork

Answer 25

Creates your own copy of someone else's repository. Lets you experiment without affecting original project.

Question 26

git init

Answer 26

Initialize a new git repository in current folder.

Question 27

git clone

Answer 27

Download a copy of remote repository to your local machine.

Question 28

git status

Answer 28

Shows which files have changes and what's staged for commit.

Question 29

git add

Answer 29

Adds files to staging area to prepare for commit. Use git add . to add all changed files.

Question 30

git commit

Answer 30

Creates snapshot of staged changes with a message.

Question 31

git push

Answer 31

Uploads local commits to remote repository.

Question 32

git pull

Answer 32

Downloads and merges changes from remote repository.

Question 33

git branch

Answer 33

Lists all branches or creates new branch.

Question 34

git checkout

Answer 34

Switches to different branch or restores files.

Question 35

git merge

Answer 35

Combines changes from one branch into current branch.

Question 36

git log

Answer 36

Shows history of commits.

Question 37

git diff

Answer 37

Shows differences between files or commits.

Question 38

git stash

Answer 38

Temporarily saves uncommitted changes.

Question 39

git reset

Answer 39

Undoes commits or unstages files.

Question 40

git revert

Answer 40

Creates new commit that undoes previous commit.

Question 41

GitHub

Answer 41

Git hosting platform with collaboration features.

Question 42

GitLab

Answer 42

Git repository manager with CI/CD.

Question 43

Bitbucket

Answer 43

Git repository hosting service from Atlassian.

Question 44

Cherry-pick

Answer 44

Apply specific commit from one branch to another.

Question 45

Release

Answer 45

Packaged version of software for distribution.

Question 46

Semantic Versioning

Answer 46

Version numbering scheme (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH).

Question 47

Breaking Change

Answer 47

Change that breaks backward compatibility.

Question 48

Backward Compatibility

Answer 48

New version works with old code/data.