What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system created by Linus Torvalds in 2005. It tracks changes in your files and lets you collaborate with others.

Why Git?

• Track history — Every change is recorded. You can always go back.
• Branch & merge — Work on features in isolation, then combine them.
• Distributed — Every developer has a full copy of the repository.
• Fast — Most operations happen locally, no network needed.

Key Concepts

Repository

A repository (or "repo") is a directory tracked by Git. It contains all your project files and the entire history of changes.

Commit

A commit is a snapshot of your project at a point in time. Think of it as a save point in a video game.

Branch

A branch is an independent line of development. The default branch is usually called main.

Working Directory, Staging Area, Repository

Git has three main areas:

1. Working Directory — where you edit files
2. Staging Area (Index) — where you prepare changes for a commit
3. Repository (.git) — where commits are stored permanently

Working Directory  →  git add  →  Staging Area  →  git commit  →  Repository

Ready?

In the next lesson, you'll create your first Git repository. Use the Next button below to continue.