What is Git and GitHub? A Beginner's Guide to Version Control

When I started learning to code, I had heard about Git and GitHub, but at that time, it all sounded too technical and unfamiliar. I assumed it must be really complex something meant only for senior developers or people working in big companies so, I just avoided it.

A couple of months later, I was working on a team project in college, and obviously, we needed a tool for collaboration. That’s when I realized that Git and GitHub aren’t just for professionals, I needed to learn them too. At first, I still thought it would be confusing and hard to grasp, but once I actually started learning, I realized it wasn’t that difficult after all. In fact, Git and GitHub turned out to be incredibly useful and surprisingly easy to get started with.

In this post, I’ll explain what Git and GitHub are in the simplest way possible, why they matter, and how you can start using them today even as a complete beginner.

What is Version Control?

Let’s assume you’re making a project report to submit in college and save it as report.docx. Then you show it to your project guide, and they suggest some corrections. You fix the mistakes and save the updated file as report_final.docx. After another review, they point out more corrections in the changes you made, so you update it again and save it as report_final_final.docx. This loop continues until your report is finally completed and approved.

Now imagine doing that with code files, especially when you're working with a team. It would get messy.

That’s where version control comes in picture.

Version control is a system that helps you track and manage changes in your code over time. Think of it like a powerful undo button, but for every change you or your teammates make. And the best part? You don’t have to manually rename or save different versions of your files. The version control system does it for you neatly and efficiently.

Here’s why it really matters:

Track Every Change: You can see who made what changes, when, and why. If something breaks, you can easily find the cause.
Revert When Needed: Made a mistake? Deleted something important? You can roll back your project to a previous version without panic.
Collaborate Without Chaos: When multiple people work on the same codebase, version control ensures you’re not overwriting each other’s work. Everyone can work in their own space and later merge changes safely.
Avoid Losing Work: If your laptop crashes or you accidentally delete something, your work is still safe and recoverable from the version control system.

In short, version control is your project’s safety net and history book. It’s something every developer beginner or pro needs to know. And the most popular version control system out there is Git.

What is Git?

Git is a free and open-source version control system. it is just a smart way to keep track of your code changes.

Imagine you’re writing a long essay or building a big LEGO set. You’d probably want to save your progress as you go, right? That’s what Git helps you do with your code. It lets you:

Save snapshots of your project at different points in time. These are called commits.
See exactly what changed, when it changed, and who made the change.
Create branches, so you can try out new features without messing up your main code.
Merge branches together when you're ready safely and with control.

One of the best things about Git is that it works locally on your own computer. You don’t even need to be connected to the internet to use it. It's fast, efficient, and once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

What is GitHub?

Now you know about Git, let’s talk about GitHub.

GitHub is a platform or you can say a web application where you can store your Git repositories online. It’s kind of like Google Drive, but built specifically for developers. And it’s not just about storage it’s about sharing, collaboration, and community.

Here’s what GitHub lets you do:

Back up your projects online, so you never lose them even if your laptop crashes.
Share your code with others, whether you're working on a team project or open source.
Collaborate with other developers - multiple people can work on the same codebase, suggest changes, and review each other’s work.
Show off your projects - GitHub is like a public portfolio where others can see what you’ve built.

Think of GitHub as a social network for code - but instead of likes and selfies, it’s pull requests and commits.

How Git and GitHub Work Together

Now you know about git as well as GitHub so, let’s tie it all together.

You use Git on your own computer to track and manage changes in your code. When you’re ready to share that code, or just want to back it up online, you push it to GitHub.

Here’s a simple flow:

You write some code.
You use Git to save a snapshot (commit).
You connect your project to GitHub.
You push your commits to GitHub so others can see them or so you can access them from anywhere.

This combo of Git + GitHub is powerful. You stay in control of your code locally, while also getting the benefits of remote access, collaboration, and backup.

So the next time you’re coding, don’t wait until “later” to learn Git and GitHub. Start early it’s easier than you think, and future-you will be very grateful.

Basic Git Commands Every Beginner Should Know

Now, let's dive deeper and understand the basic commands you need to know to use Git and GitHub.

But before you actually run any commands, you need to install and set up Git on your local computer. If you haven’t done this yet, you can follow the steps below to get started.

Step 1: Install Git

First things first you need to have Git installed on your computer.

How to Install Git:

Go to the official Git website:

https://git-scm.com/downloads
Download for your OS:
- Windows users: Download the .exe file and install it.
- Mac users: Use Homebrew or download the installer.
- Linux users: Use your package manager.
Check if Git installed correctly:
Open your terminal or command prompt and run: git --version

You should see something like "git version 2.XX.X " That means Git is installed!

Step 2: Set Up Git (First-Time Only)

You’ll need to tell Git your name and email address. This info gets saved with your commits.

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "youremail@example.com"

You only need to do this once.

Step 3: Create a GitHub Account

If you don’t already have one:

Go to https://github.com
Click Sign up and create a free account.

Step 4: Install GitHub Desktop or Use VS Code

This is the optional step you can avoid it if you want.

GitHub Desktop (GUI-friendly):

https://desktop.github.com
Great for beginners who prefer a visual interface.
VS Code:
If you're using Visual Studio Code, Git integration is built in! You can view changes, commit, push, and pull directly from the sidebar.

Make sure Git is installed before using Git inside VS Code.

Now Let’s Learn the Most Useful Git Commands (Step-by-Step)

Let’s break it down into the commands you’ll use the most along with explanations.

1. git init

Use this when you want to start tracking a project with Git.

git init

It creates a hidden .git folder inside your project, which is where Git tracks changes.

2.git add .

This stages your changes (like preparing your files before taking a photo).

git add .

The . means “add everything that’s changed.” You can also stage specific files like this:

git add "index.html"

3. git status

This tells you what’s going on with your project what has changed, what’s staged, and what’s not.

git status

It's like asking Git: "What’s the current situation?"

4. git commit

Once changes are staged, you save a snapshot of your code with a message explaining what you did.

git commit -m "Added about me section"

Each commit is a version of your project that you can go back to later.

5. git log

See the history of commits:

git log

This shows who made what changes, when, and what message they left. It’s like a timeline of your project.

Connecting to GitHub and Pushing Your Code Online

Let’s say you’ve created a GitHub repository and you want to upload your local project there.

Step 1: Create a New Repo on GitHub

Go to https://github.com
Click the + icon → New repository
Name it anything that you like
Don’t initialize with README (if you already have files locally)
Click Create repository

GitHub will now show you some commands to connect your local Git project to this new remote one.

Step 2: Link Your Local Project to GitHub

Make sure you're inside your project folder, then run:

git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/my-first-project.git

This connects your local repo to the GitHub one (called "origin").

Step 3: Push Your Code Online

Now upload your code to GitHub:

git push -u origin main
→ origin is the remote GitHub repo.
→ main is the branch you’re pushing.

You’ll be asked to log in (usually once), and then your code will appear on GitHub!

From now on after making any changes run the following commands to update your code on GitHub:

git add .
git commit -m "Updated something"
git push

That’s it!

Cloning a Project

To copy a project from GitHub to your computer:

git clone followed by the project’s GitHub URL

This will create a folder with all the code and version history on your computer.

Pulling Changes

To update your local project with changes from GitHub:

git pull origin main

This ensures your code is up to date with the online version.

Branching in Git

Create a new branch: Use this to work on a new feature without affecting the main code.

git branch branch-name

Switch to a branch:

git checkout branch-name

Create and switch in one step:

git checkout -b branch-name

After you finish working on a branch, you can merge it into the main branch.

Why GitHub is Great for Beginners

If you’re just starting out, GitHub might sound like a tool for professionals but the truth is, it’s perfect for beginners too. Here’s why:

1. You Can Share Your Projects
GitHub makes it super easy to share your code with friends, teachers, or even potential employers. You don’t need to send zip files or upload folders to Google Drive. Just send your GitHub link! It's clean, professional, and very common in the developer world.

2. It Tracks Your Learning Journey
Every commit you make is like a journal entry. Over time, you can scroll through your older repositories and see how far you've come. It's a great way to document your progress and remind yourself that you're learning and growing even when it doesn’t feel like it.

3. You Learn Real-World Workflows
Most companies use Git and GitHub or similar tools like GitLab/Bitbucket in real projects. Learning Git now means you’ll already be familiar with tools and processes used in real jobs. Things like pull requests, issues, branches, and code reviews are not just fancy terms they’re skills that companies value.

4. You Can Contribute to Open Source
Once you get comfortable, you can start contributing to open-source projects. It might feel scary at first, but it’s one of the best ways to learn. You’ll see how real developers write code, how teams collaborate, and how feedback works in a professional setting.

My First Experience Using Git and GitHub

Let me share a little story from my own journey.

When I first started learning Git, I was totally overwhelmed. I saw people using the terminal, typing all these strange commands, and I thought, “This is definitely not for me.” I assumed it was for people who already knew what they were doing. So for a while, I avoided it.

Then came a group project at college. We needed a way to collaborate, and I had no choice but to dive in. I followed a few tutorials, copied some commands, made a bunch of mistakes but then, something clicked. I finally connected my local project to GitHub and saw my code online. That moment felt magical.

It was like: “Wow. I’m actually doing this.”

From that point on, Git and GitHub became a regular part of how I worked. And here’s the truth if I can learn it, so can you. Don’t let the technical stuff scare you. Take one step at a time.

Resources to Get Started

You don’t need to figure it all out alone. Here are some amazing beginner-friendly resources that helped me when I was starting out:

YouTube Channels
- Chai aur Code: Detailed and beginner friendly video for git and github.

video link: git and GitHub tutorial by Chai aur code

Code with Harry: Really helpful and easy to understand video on Git, GitHub.

video link: git and GitHub by code with harry

Official Git Documentation
Once you're comfortable, this is the go-to for in-depth explanations.
You can also check out the document that I had prepared while learning git and GitHub. It contains all the important commands that I use.

Link : Document Link

Explore these resources. It’ll help reinforce your learning from multiple angles.

Message to the Learners: Start Small, But Start Today

Learning Git and GitHub might seem like a big step when you're new to coding. And yes, it might be confusing at first. But trust me it’s one of the most rewarding skills you can learn early in your journey.

You don’t have to master it all in a day. Just begin.
Start with one project. Learn a few commands.
Push your code. Break things. Fix them.
That’s how real learning happens.

And the best part? Git is made to help you undo your mistakes. So you’re never really stuck.

Remember, coding isn’t about being perfect it’s about being persistent.
I hope you’ve got this.

Let’s learn some skills - one commit at a time :)

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