What is the difference between Git rebase and Git merge, and when would you use each one?

Git rebase and Git merge are two methods used in Git for integrating changes from one branch to another. The main difference between the two is the way they integrate the changes:

Git Merge:

In Git merge, the changes from one branch are incorporated into another branch by creating a new commit that combines the histories of both branches. This creates a new merge commit that has two parent commits.

Git Rebase:

On the other hand, Git rebase works by moving the entire feature branch on top of the base branch, effectively rewriting the commit history. This results in a linear history without merge commits.

When to use Git Merge:

Use Git merge when you want to maintain a clear record of all the changes and collaborations that have happened in a project. Merge commits help in keeping track of when and how the branches were integrated.

When to use Git Rebase:

Git rebase is useful when you want to maintain a clean and linear commit history. It can be used to rebase feature branches onto the latest changes in the base branch before merging them.