The Difference Between Git and GitHub
Although they’re often used together, Git and GitHub are two different things. Understanding the difference is very important.
Git is a version control software. It’s a tool that you install on your computer to track changes in your code.
- It works completely offline.
- It’s the core engine that handles creating commits, branches, and merging.
- Think of Git like a word processing application (like Microsoft Word). It’s the program you use to write and save different versions of your document.
GitHub: The Service ☁️
GitHub is a web-based hosting service for Git repositories. It’s a place on the internet where you store your project’s code and collaborate with others.
- It’s a platform built around Git.
- It adds powerful features on top of Git, like Pull Requests, issue tracking, and user management.
- Think of GitHub like a social network or cloud storage service for your documents (like Google Docs or Dropbox). It’s where you upload your documents to share them, get feedback, and work with others.
## A Simple Analogy
- Git is the software.
- GitHub is the social network for the software.
You use Git on your computer, and you use GitHub to share your work and collaborate with your team.