Git merge and Git rebase are two different methods for integrating changes from one branch into the current branch. Here are the differences between Git merge and Git rebase:
Git Merge
- Git Merge is the process of combining the commit history of one branch into the current branch.
- When you perform a merge, Git creates a new commit that contains all the changes from the merged branch and the current branch.
- Merge retains the commit history of both branches, which can result in a complex commit history when integrating features or long-lived branches.
- Merge is typically used when you want to keep separate commit histories for each branch and only integrate changes into the main branch.
Git Rebase
- Git Rebase is the process of moving the commits of the current branch and placing them on top of the branch you want to integrate (rebase) into.
- When you perform a rebase, Git applies each commit of the current branch on top of the target branch. This creates a new and cleaner commit chain.
- Rebase helps maintain a simpler and more linear commit history, but it can alter the commit history of the current branch and may cause conflicts if multiple people are working on the same branch.
The choice between Git merge and Git rebase depends on your workflow and specific project requirements. If you want to keep separate commit histories and integrate features or long-lived branches, use merge. If you prefer to maintain a simpler and more linear commit history, use rebase.