Git Fetch vs Pull : What’s the Difference?

Developers use both of these commands: Git Fetch and Git Pull, in order to download updates from a remote repository, but they work in slightly different ways. So, are you aware of the differences between these two commands (Git Fetch vs Pull)?

The main difference between Git Fetch vs Pull is that the Git Fetch command downloads the changes from a remote repository but doesn’t merge them with your local copy of the repository. In contrast, the Git Pull command downloads the changes from a remote repository and merges them with your local copy of the repository.

You can also explore: Git vs GitHub – What’s the Difference?

In this article, we will greatly explore the difference between Git Fetch and Pull. But, before we begin exploring Git Fetch vs Pull, let’s go over the topics listed under the table of contents (TOC) that we will cover in this article.

Table of Contents (TOC)

• Git Fetch vs Pull
• What is Git Fetch?
• Advantages of using the Git Fetch command
• What is Git Pull?
• Advantages of using the Git Pull command
• Key Differences Between Git Fetch vs Pull
• Conclusion

Git Fetch vs Pull

For a better understanding, let’s explore Git Fetch vs Pull in a tabular format. Here’s the table:

Benchmark	Git Fetch	Git Pull
What is it?	A command that downloads the changes from a remote repository, but it doesn’t merge them with your local copy of the repository.	A command that downloads the changes from a remote repository and merges them with your local copy of the repository.
Is there a possibility of merge conflicts?	No.	Yes
Command	git fetch<remote>	git pull<remote><branch>
Function	Provides the information of a new change from a remote repository.	Brings a copy of all the changes from a remote repository.
Advantage	Allows you to review the changes before merging.	Updates the changes to the local repository immediately.

What is Git Fetch? 

Git Fetch Definition: It is a command that downloads the changes from a remote repository but doesn’t merge them with your local copy of the repository.

The Git Fetch command stores the changes in a separate branch, commonly known as the remote branch. The Git Fetch command is very useful for developers, as it allows them to review the changes manually before deciding whether to merge them into your local copy of the repository.

You can also explore: GitHub vs GitLab – Difference Between Them?

Advantages of using the Git Fetch command 

Here are some of the advantages of using the Git Fetch command:

• Acts as a safe option, as it does not change the local branches
• Allows you to review the changes before deciding to merge them
• Allows you to update multiple branches at once by fetching from multiple remote repositories

You can also explore: Introduction to Git

What is Git Pull? 

Git Pull Definition: It is a command that downloads the changes from a remote repository and merges them with your local copy of the repository. 

The Git Pull command updates your local copy of the repository with all the changes from the remote repository. The Git Pull command is useful for developers when they want to update the local copy of the repository with all the changes without having to review them first. This command can save a lot of time, but it should only be used when you are sure to update the local copy of the repository with all the changes.

You can also explore: GitHub/Git Tips and Tricks

Advantages of using the Git Pull command 

Here are some of the advantages of using the Git Pull command:

• Keeps your local repository in sync with a remote repository
• Automates the process of fetching and merging while making sure that all the developers in a team are working on the same version of the code
• Saves time and simplifies the process of updating your local repository by retrieving the latest updates from a remote repository and merging them with your local code

You can also explore: Git online courses

Key Differences Between Git Fetch vs Pull

Here are the key differences between Git Fetch vs Pull:

• You can review the changes before merging the changes by when using the Git Fetch command. But, you cannot review the changes using the Git Pull command.
• The Git Fetch command does not merge the changes or updates done in a remote repository with your local copy of the repository. In contrast, the Git Pull command merges the changes or updates done in a remote repository with your local copy of the repository.
• When using the Git Fetch command, there is no possibility of merge conflicts. Whereas when using the Git Pull command, merge conflicts are possible. (It is possible when the remote and the local repositories have changed at the same place.)

You can also explore: Tutorial – How to Use GitHub

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed what Git Fetch and Git Pull commands are. We have also explored Git Fetch vs Pull in great detail, along with the respective advantages of each type of command. If you have any queries related to the topic, please feel free to send your query to us in the form of a comment. We will be happy to help.

Happy Learning!!