Git and GitHub

At a glance

Git

Records and exchanges version history

GitHub

Hosts repositories and collaboration workflows

Overview

Git is a version-control system, while GitHub is a hosted platform that uses Git repositories and adds collaboration tools. A project can use Git without GitHub, and understanding the distinction makes local history, remote synchronization, and review workflows easier to separate.

What differs

Git supplies commits, branches, and repository operations. GitHub supplies platform features around repositories, including issues, pull requests, permissions, and configured automation.

Choose by the task

Use Git commands or compatible tools to inspect local history and record changes. Use the hosting platform when the task concerns a remote review, repository access, or platform-specific project coordination.

Common confusion

Committing does not automatically publish changes to a remote repository. Pushing, opening a pull request, and merging are separate actions whose effects should be checked independently.

Sources and review

MOOR's explanatory text is supported by the following source links.

1. What is Git? — Pro Git
2. About GitHub and Git — GitHub