Interview Bite

Git is the most widely used version control system (VCS) in the software development industry. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, mastering Git is essential for collaboration and efficient code management.

If you’re preparing for a job interview, you must be ready to answer GIT interview questions confidently. This guide covers 50+ essential Git interview questions, ranging from basic to advanced, along with detailed answers to help you succeed.

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Basic GIT Interview Questions

1. What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system that helps developers track changes in source code during software development. It allows multiple developers to collaborate efficiently.

2. How is Git different from GitHub?

• Git is a version control tool.
• GitHub is a cloud-based platform that hosts Git repositories and adds collaboration features like pull requests and issue tracking.

3. Explain the Git workflow.

The basic Git workflow consists of:

• Working Directory: Where you modify files.
• Staging Area (Index): Where you prepare changes for commit.
• Repository (Local/Remote): Where committed changes are stored permanently.

4. What is a repository in Git?

A Git repository is a storage location where Git keeps all project files, including commit history and metadata.

5. What are the common Git commands?

• git init – Initializes a new Git repo.
• git clone – Copies a remote repository.
• git add – Stages changes.
• git commit – Saves changes to the local repo.
• git push – Uploads changes to a remote repo.
• git pull – Fetches and merges changes from a remote repo.

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Intermediate GIT Interview Questions

6. What is branching in Git?

A branch is a parallel version of a repository, allowing developers to work on features or fixes without affecting the main codebase.

7. How do you create and switch branches?

git branch new-feature  # Creates a branch  
git checkout new-feature  # Switches to the branch  
# OR  
git checkout -b new-feature  # Creates and switches  

8. What is a merge conflict, and how do you resolve it?

A merge conflict occurs when Git cannot automatically merge changes. To resolve:

1. Open the conflicting file.
2. Manually edit the conflicting sections.
3. Use git add and git commit to finalize the merge.

9. What is the difference between git pull and git fetch?

• git fetch downloads changes but doesn’t merge them.
• git pull fetches and automatically merges changes.

10. What is .gitignore?

A .gitignore file specifies which files/directories Git should ignore (e.g., log files, dependencies).

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Advanced GIT Interview Questions

11. What is Git rebase?

Rebasing rewrites commit history by moving a branch to a new base commit, creating a linear history.

12. What is a detached HEAD state?

A detached HEAD occurs when you checkout a commit instead of a branch. Changes won’t belong to any branch unless a new one is created.

13. Explain Git stash.

git stash temporarily saves uncommitted changes, allowing you to switch branches without committing.

14. What is cherry-picking in Git?

git cherry-pick applies a specific commit from one branch to another.

15. How do you revert a Git commit?

git revert <commit-hash>  # Creates a new commit undoing changes  
git reset --hard <commit-hash>  # Destructively removes commits  

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People Also Ask (FAQs)

Q1. What are the best practices for Git commits?

• Write clear, concise commit messages.
• Commit small, logical changes.
• Avoid committing unnecessary files.

Q2. How do I undo the last Git commit?

bash

git reset --soft HEAD~1  # Keeps changes staged  
git reset --hard HEAD~1  # Discards changes completely  

Q3. What is the difference between Git and SVN?

• Git is distributed (each user has a full repo).
• SVN is centralized (relies on a single server).

Q4. How do I squash multiple commits into one?

bash

git rebase -i HEAD~3  # Interactive rebase for last 3 commits  

Q5. What is Git reflog?

git reflog tracks all reference changes, helping recover lost commits or branches.

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Conclusion

Mastering GIT interview questions is crucial for any developer. This guide covers basic to advanced Git concepts, commands, and best practices to help you ace your next interview.

Pro Tip: Practice Git commands daily and contribute to open-source projects to gain hands-on experience.

🚀 Ready to crack your Git interview? Bookmark this guide and stay ahead in your tech career!