GitRepositories

Git repositories are the core data structures used by the distributed version control system Git to store and manage a project’s history. A repository contains the complete record of changes to files, including commits, branches, tags, and the configuration that governs how changes are tracked and shared. Repositories come in two forms: a bare repository, which holds the Git object database and references without a working directory and is typically used on servers; and a non-bare repository, which includes a working tree for local development.

Key concepts include commits, which record snapshots of the project at a point in time; branches, which represent independent lines of development; and tags, which label specific commits. Remotes are copies of repositories stored elsewhere, used for collaboration. Common operations include clone, fetch, pull, push, commit, and merge, which modify or synchronize the repository’s state. Merges combine changes from one branch into another, while rebases rewrite history by reapplying commits.

Git repositories are often hosted on platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket to facilitate collaboration, issue tracking, and review through pull or merge requests. Access is controlled through authentication, typically via SSH keys or tokens, and may include finer-grained permissions. Security features can include commit signing with GPG to verify authorship and integrity.

Best practices emphasize concise, well-described commits; using a .gitignore file to exclude generated or sensitive files; employing a coherent branching strategy; and avoiding history rewrites on public branches. Large files may require Git LFS, and some projects use submodules or subtrees to incorporate external repositories.