Git Interview Question: Difference between git clone and git fetch

When it comes to Git, understanding the difference between git clone and git fetch is important:

git clone:

git clone is used to create a copy of a remote repository on your local machine. It not only copies the latest version of the project but also sets up the connection to the original repository, allowing you to push changes back to it.

git fetch:

git fetch is used to retrieve changes from the remote repository without merging them into your local branch. It updates your local repository with the latest changes from the remote but does not apply those changes to your current working branch. You can then decide whether to merge or rebase the changes.

So, in summary, git clone is used to create a local copy of a remote repository while git fetch is used to retrieve remote changes without automatically merging them.