What’s the difference between git pull and git fetch and when should I use each?

[chogalesoham]

Hey everyone 👋

I'm currently learning Git and GitHub and often come across git pull and git fetch. I understand that both commands retrieve data from a remote repository, but I'm still confused about what exactly each does, and in what situations one is preferred over the other.

Can someone explain the key differences between git fetch and git pull with simple examples or real-life use cases? Also, are there any risks involved when using either of them?

Thanks in advance! 🙌

[chogalesoham]

git fetch:
Downloads the latest commits, branches, and tags from the remote repo, but does NOT merge them into your current branch. It’s safe and good for checking what’s changed before you update your local code.

🔍 Think of it like checking the news without taking action.

git pull:
It does a git fetch + git merge. So it not only downloads changes but automatically merges them into your current branch.

[jfullstackdev]

and if you git pull but it cannot be merged automatically ( like a merge conflict ), it ends as git fetch

because git pull is a git fetch then git merge