git fetch Command

The git fetch command is used to download changes from a remote repository to your local repository without merging those changes into your local branch. It updates your remote-tracking branches with the latest commits from the remote repository, allowing you to review changes before integrating them.

Syntax

git fetch <remote> [<refspec>...]

• <remote>: The name of the remote repository (e.g., origin).
• <refspec>: Optional; specifies the branches or tags to fetch.

Basic Usage

1. Fetch Changes from a Remote

To fetch updates from a remote repository:

git fetch <remote>

Example:

git fetch origin

This command fetches all updates from the origin remote but does not merge them into your current branch. It updates your local copy of remote-tracking branches (e.g., origin/main).

2. Fetch a Specific Branch

To fetch changes for a specific branch:

git fetch <remote> <branch>

Example:

git fetch origin feature/new-feature

This command fetches updates from the feature/new-feature branch on the origin remote.

3. Fetch Tags

To fetch tags from a remote:

git fetch <remote> --tags

Example:

git fetch origin --tags

This command fetches all tags from the origin remote.

Important Considerations

1. Remote-Tracking Branches: After fetching, you can review changes by inspecting remote-tracking branches (e.g., origin/main). These branches are updated with the latest commits from the remote repository but do not affect your current branch.

2. No Merging: git fetch does not automatically merge changes into your local branches. This allows you to review and decide when and how to integrate changes.

3. Review Changes: After fetching, you can use commands like git log, git diff, and git status to review the changes before deciding to merge or rebase them.

4. Fast-Forward and Merging: After fetching, you can merge changes into your local branch manually using:

   git merge <remote>/<branch>
   

   Or rebase your local changes on top of the fetched changes using:

   git rebase <remote>/<branch>
   

5. Updating Remote References: Fetching updates remote-tracking branches to reflect changes in the remote repository, such as new branches or deleted branches.

Example Workflow

1. Fetch Updates:

   git fetch origin
   

   This updates your remote-tracking branches with the latest changes from the origin remote.

2. Review Changes:

   Check the status of your remote-tracking branches:

   git status
   

   View differences between your local branch and the fetched changes:

   git diff origin/main
   

3. Integrate Changes:

   After reviewing, merge or rebase as needed:

   git merge origin/main
   

   Or:

   git rebase origin/main
   

Summary

• Purpose: git fetch downloads changes from a remote repository and updates remote-tracking branches without merging them.
• Basic Commands:
  • git fetch <remote>: Fetch updates from the specified remote repository.
  • git fetch <remote> <branch>: Fetch updates for a specific branch.
  • git fetch <remote> --tags: Fetch tags from the remote repository.

The git fetch command is essential for keeping your local repository aware of remote changes and provides control over when and how to integrate those changes.