Git
Git
A tool that records file change history, letting you restore past states and collaborate with your team.
In Simple Terms
Git is a "distributed version control system" that records and tracks changes to source code and other files. Instead of simply overwriting files, it saves a history of changes so you can restore any recorded state. You can also branch your development into parallel lines, and even work offline — your entire history lives right on your own computer. It's the standard tool used in projects where engineers around the world collaborate to build a single piece of software.
Behind the Name
Git "Git" is British slang for an unpleasant or contemptible person. Its creator, Linus Torvalds, famously named the project after himself as a self-deprecating joke — and the name stuck.
Take a Closer Look!
Git is a "distributed version control system" that records and tracks changes to source code and other files.
For every meaningful checkpoint in your work, it stores who changed what file, how, and when.
Its defining feature is that instead of simply overwriting files, Git saves each checkpoint as a snapshot of the entire project.
This makes it easy to restore any recorded state, or to branch your development — spinning off an experimental line without affecting the main codebase.
Because your full history lives on your own computer, you can work and review history even without an internet connection.
Git is the standard version control tool used across many software development projects.
Paired with hosting services like GitHub or GitLab, it's what allows engineers around the world to collaborate and build massive software projects together.