What is the difference between Git rebase and Git merge in terms of functionality and when would you use each one?

1 Answers
Answered by suresh

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Git Rebase vs. Git Merge: Understanding the Differences | Interview Question

Git Rebase vs. Git Merge: Understanding the Differences

When distinguishing between Git rebase and Git merge, it's important to comprehend their unique functionalities and optimal use cases.

Git Rebase:

  • Rebasing is a method used in Git to integrate changes from one branch into another by moving the entire branch to a new base commit.
  • Rebasing provides a cleaner and linear project history by incorporating changes as if they were made on top of the current branch.
  • It is suitable for keeping a clean and organized commit history, especially in feature branches or pull requests.
  • However, rebasing should be avoided on public branches shared with other developers to prevent conflicts and history rewriting.

Git Merge:

  • Merging is a process in Git that combines changes from one branch to another by creating a new commit that joins the histories of both branches.
  • Merging preserves the complete history of all changes made in the project, maintaining the individual characteristics of each branch.
  • It is typically used for integrating feature branches, bug fixes, and other changes that need to be combined with the main development branch.
  • Merge commits can sometimes clutter the project history, but they provide a transparent record of all changes merged into the branch.

In conclusion, use Git rebase when aiming for a linear and clean commit history, especially in feature branches, while Git merge is best suited for integrating changes while maintaining the original branch history intact.

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Answer for Question: What is the difference between Git rebase and Git merge in terms of functionality and when would you use each one?