git pull === git fetch + git merge

What Is the Difference Between ‘Git Pull’ and ‘Git Fetch’?

Demystifying the key differences between two essential Git commands, plus how to git pull and git fetch in GitHub Desktop.

Photo by Chris Andrawes on Unsplash

Git pull vs Git fetch: A Primer on the Difference

Version control is a vital aspect of any software development process, and Git has established itself as one of the most popular and widely-used tools for managing code changes over time. Understanding the core Git commands is critical for developers, but even for the experienced, the difference between git pull and git fetch can sometimes be a bit unclear. In this article, we will explore these two commands and their applications, both in the command line and with GitHub Desktop.

First, let’s provide a brief overview of the two commands:

• git pull: This command retrieves (fetches) changes from a remote repository and merges them into your local branch. Essentially, it is a combination of git fetch and git merge.
• git fetch: This command retrieves changes from a remote repository but does not merge them. Instead, it updates the remote-tracking branches, allowing you to review and…