10 Most commonly asked GIT Interview questions and answers

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1) What is a version control system (VCS)?

A version control system (VCS) refers specifically to Git, a distributed version control system widely used in software development. Git is designed to track changes in source code during software development and enables collaboration among multiple developers. It maintains a complete history of revisions, allowing developers to work on the same project concurrently, merge changes seamlessly, and track the evolution of the codebase over time.

2) What does git clone do?

In Git, the git clone command is used to create a copy or clone of a remote repository onto the local machine. This command is fundamental for initializing a new local repository based on an existing repository hosted on a remote server, such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. The syntax for the git clone command is:


git clone <repository URL>

3) What does the command git config do?

The git config command in Git is used to set, get, or list configuration options for the Git environment. This command allows users to customize various aspects of their Git configuration, such as user information, editor preferences, and repository-specific settings.

4) What is a git repository?

A Git repository, often referred to simply as a “repo,” is a storage location where Git version control system manages and tracks changes to a set of files and their entire revision history. It acts as a centralized hub for collaborative software development, allowing multiple contributors to work on the same project concurrently

5) What is the functionality of git ls-tree?

The git ls-tree command in Git is used to display information about a Git tree object, which represents the structure of a particular commit or a specific tree in the repository. This command provides a detailed listing of the contents of a tree, including information about the mode, type, object hash, and file name for each entry within the specified tree.

6) What does the git status command do?

The git status command in Git is used to provide information about the current state of the working directory and the staging area of the repository. It displays details such as modified files, untracked files, and changes that are staged for the next commit.

7) Why is it considered to be easy to work on Git?

Git is considered easy to work with for several reasons, making it a popular version control system among developers:

1) Simple and Intuitive Design:

  • Description: Git has a simple and intuitive design, with commands and workflows that are easy to understand. Its straightforward architecture contributes to a low learning curve for users.

2) Distributed Version Control:

  • Description: Git is a distributed version control system, allowing each developer to have a complete copy of the repository. This decentralization simplifies collaboration and enables users to work offline.

3) Branching and Merging:

  • Description: Git excels in branching and merging, providing developers with the ability to create isolated branches for new features or bug fixes. The process of merging changes between branches is seamless.

4) Performance:

  • Description: Git is known for its performance, enabling fast and efficient operations, even in large repositories. This contributes to a smooth and responsive user experience.

5) Broad Adoption and Community Support:

  • Description: Git is widely adopted across the software development community, leading to extensive documentation, tutorials, and community support. Developers can easily find resources to enhance their Git proficiency.

6) Compatibility:

  • Description: Git is compatible with various platforms and operating systems, making it versatile for use on Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.

Key Tips:

  • Highlight the simple and intuitive design of Git.
  • Emphasize its distributed nature and versatile branching and merging capabilities.
  • Mention the performance, community support, compatibility, extensibility, and robust versioning as contributing factors to ease of use.

8) How will you create a git repository?

Creating a Git repository involves a series of steps, and the process is straightforward. Here’s a basic guide on how to create a Git repository:

1) Initialize a New Repository:

  • Open your terminal or command prompt.
  • Navigate to the directory where you want to create the new Git repository.
  • Use the following command to initialize a new Git repository:

git init

2) Add Files to the Repository:

  • Place your project files or create new files within the repository directory.
  • Use the following command to stage the files for the initial commit:

git add .

3) Commit Changes:

  • Commit the staged changes with a meaningful commit message:

git commit -m "Initial commit"

9) Differentiate between git pull and git fetch

git pull and git fetch are both Git commands used for updating a local repository with changes from a remote repository, but they differ in their functionalities.

1) git pull:

  • Functionality: git pull is a combination of two actions: fetching changes from the remote repository and automatically merging them into the current local branch.

2)git fetch:

  • Functionality: git fetch retrieves changes from the remote repository and stores them in a separate branch in the local repository (usually named origin/<branch>). However, it does not automatically merge these changes into the current local branch.

10) Can you tell the difference between Git and GitHub?

Git and GitHub are related but serve different purposes in the context of version control and collaboration in software development.

  1. Git:
    • Description: Git is a distributed version control system designed to track changes in source code during software development. It allows multiple developers to work on the same project concurrently, maintaining a complete history of revisions.
    • Key Features:
      • Local repositories on each developer’s machine.
      • Branching and merging for parallel development.
      • Snapshot-based versioning for efficient tracking of changes.
      • Commands for commit, push, pull, and branching.
  2. GitHub:
    • Description: GitHub is a web-based platform that provides hosting for Git repositories. It extends Git’s functionality by adding a collaborative and social layer. Developers can host their Git repositories on GitHub and leverage features such as issue tracking, pull requests, and collaboration tools.
    • Key Features:
      • Remote hosting of Git repositories.
      • Web-based interface for repository management.
      • Collaboration features like pull requests and issue tracking.
      • Integration with continuous integration tools.

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