What is the difference between git pull and git fetch?

Question

Anubhav Kumar · Answer

1. git fetch
Downloads new commits, branches, and data from the remote repository.Does NOT change your local working files.Just updates your remote-tracking branches (like origin/main).Lets you see what’s changed before merging.
Example:
git fetch origin
After fetching, you can compare:
git diff main origin/main
Safe operation — nothing changes in your current work.
2. git pull
Does everything fetch does +
automatically merges the new changes into your current branch.
Equivalent to:
git fetch
git merge
(or rebase if configured).
Example:
git pull origin main
Not as safe, because it may cause merge conflicts immediately.
Summary Table
Command
Fetches remote changes
Updates working directory
Risk of conflicts
git fetch
Yes
No
No
git pull
Yes
Yes (merge/rebase)
Yes
When to use what?
Use git fetch when:
You want to check new changes before merging.You want full control over when to merge.You want to avoid breaking your current code.
Use git pull when:
You trust the remote changes and want them directly.You want faster updates and don’t need a preview.

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What is the difference between git pull and git fetch?

Shalini Passi

Can you answer this question?

1 Answers

1. `git fetch`

Example:

2. `git pull`

Example:

Summary Table

When to use what?

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