What is the difference between ‘git pull’ and ‘git fetch’?

The difference between git pull and git fetch lies in how they update your local repository with changes from a remote repository. Here’s a breakdown:

git fetch

• What it does:
• Downloads the latest changes (commits, branches, tags) from the remote repository.
• Updates your remote-tracking branches (e.g., origin/main) but does not modify your local branches or working directory.
• Use case:
• Safely check remote changes before integrating them into your work.
• Review updates without altering your current branch.

Example:

git fetch origin   # Fetches updates from the remote "origin"

git pull

• What it does:
• Combines git fetch + git merge (default) or git rebase (with --rebase).
• Fetches changes from the remote and merges them into your current local branch.
• Use case:
• Quickly sync your local branch with the latest remote changes.

Example:

git pull origin main   # Fetches and merges "origin/main" into your current branch

Key Differences

Feature	git fetch	git pull
Local Changes	Leaves working directory untouched.	Modifies your local branch.
Integration	Requires manual merge/rebase.	Automatically merges or rebases.
Safety	Safer (review changes first).	Riskier (auto-merge may cause conflicts).
Workflow	fetch → merge/rebase	Combines fetch + merge/rebase

When to Use Which

1. Use git fetch when you want to:

• Review changes before merging (e.g., check logs/diffs).
• Avoid unexpected merge conflicts.

1. Use git pull when you want to:

• Quickly update your local branch with remote changes.
• Automate the fetch-and-merge process (e.g., in a clean branch).

Example Workflow

# 1. Fetch updates without modifying your branch
git fetch origin

# 2. Compare local branch with remote changes
git diff main origin/main

# 3. Merge changes manually (after review)
git merge origin/main

# OR: Rebase instead of merge
git rebase origin/main

Advanced: git pull --rebase

To avoid merge commits, pull changes and rebase your local commits on top:

git pull --rebase origin main

By understanding these commands, you can choose the right approach for updating your codebase!