What 's the difference between 'git merge' and 'git rebase'?
When using version control systems like to manage the source code of a project, and are two common methods for integrating changes from different branches. Their primary purpose is to combine changes from two branches into a unified history, but they differ in their approach and impact on the commit history.git mergeis a straightforward method for merging changes. It takes the latest commits of two branches and their common ancestor, then attempts to automatically merge these changes. If different branches modify the same part of the same file, conflicts may arise, requiring manual resolution.After merging, creates a new 'merge commit' with two parent commits, representing the state of the two branches before merging. This approach preserves a complete, non-linear project history, providing clear visibility into how the project evolved over time, including all branches and merge points.git rebaseThe main idea of is to take a series of commits and reapply them sequentially on top of another branch. This process aims to make changes from one branch appear as if they were made directly on another branch, resulting in a linear history.Specifically, suppose you are developing on a feature branch that diverged from the branch. As you work on the feature branch, may have new commits. In this case, you can use to reapply your feature branch changes on top of the current tip of the branch (HEAD). This results in your feature branch commits appearing after 's commits, creating a linear history.ComparisonHistory Clarity: preserves a non-linear history, showing all branches and merge points. creates a linear history.Conflict Handling: In , conflicts may occur during each commit application, requiring individual resolution. In , conflicts are resolved only once at the final merge.Recommended Use Cases: is typically used for merging public or shared branches (e.g., merging a completed feature branch back into or ). is commonly used in personal development, such as merging the latest changes into your feature branch to avoid complex merges later.ExampleAssume I am developing a new feature on the branch. Meanwhile, my colleague advances some changes on the branch. To keep my branch updated, I can choose:Using :This creates a new merge commit on my branch.Using :This reapplies all changes from my branch on top of the latest changes in the branch.Overall, the choice depends on the desired project history and your personal or team workflow.