What is Git?

Git (pronounced like "gift" without the "f") is a tool that tracks every version of your code. Every time you save a checkpoint (called a commit), Git remembers exactly what changed. You can always go back to any previous checkpoint if something breaks.

Think of it like unlimited undo — but smarter. You can see what changed, when, and why, permanently.

Git vs GitHub

Git runs on your computer. It's the tool that does the tracking.

GitHub is a website where developers store and share code — a "hub" for Git projects. It's where your code lives so you can access it from anywhere, share it with others, and connect it to services like Vercel or Render for automatic deployments.

You use Git locally to save checkpoints. You use GitHub to sync them to the cloud — your code is backed up automatically.

The basic flow

1. Edit — change files in your editor. Git tracks every difference (called a diff) — that's the red and green lines you see
2. Commit — save a checkpoint with a short message describing what you did
3. Push — send your commits to GitHub

That's the cycle you'll repeat every time you make changes. It becomes second nature fast.