Git Glossary

From commit to clone to pull request, your passport to the collaborative world of Git workflows.

index entry

A record in Git's index file representing the state of a file in the repository.

integration

A connection between Git and other tools or services to enhance functionality and workflow.

key fingerprint

A short sequence of bytes used to identify a longer public key in Git's GPG signing process.

keychain

A secure storage system for passwords and keys, often integrated with Git clients for credential management.

keyword

A reserved word in Git commands or configurations with a specific meaning or function.

label

A way to categorize and organize issues and pull requests in GitHub repositories.

license

A document in a Git repository specifying how the project can be used, modified, and distributed.

line comment

A feature in Git platforms allowing users to comment on specific lines of code in pull requests or commits.

line ending

Characters marking the end of a line, which can cause issues in Git when collaborating across different operating systems.

locked personal account

A GitHub account that has been restricted due to a violation of terms of service or suspicious activity.

main

The default name for the primary branch in many Git repositories, replacing 'master' in recent conventions.

management console

An administrative interface for managing Git hosting services, often used in enterprise environments.

markup

A system of annotation used to format text, often used in Git documentation and comments.

members graph

A visual representation of an organization's membership on Git hosting platforms.

merge conflict

A situation in Git where incompatible changes have been made to the same part of a file, requiring manual resolution.

milestone

A way to track progress on groups of issues or pull requests in GitHub projects.

mirror

A complete copy of a repository, including all branches and history, often used for backup or as a full replica.

nested team

A team within a GitHub organization that is a subset of a larger team, inheriting its permissions.

network graph

A visual representation of the commit history and branch structure of a Git repository.

news feed

A personalized list of recent activity on Git platforms, showing updates from followed users and repositories.

non-fast-forward

A Git push that introduces new commits to the remote branch that aren't direct descendants of the current remote HEAD.

notification

An alert system on Git platforms to inform users about relevant activities and mentions.

object

A fundamental unit in Git's data model, representing content, commits, trees, or tags, identified by a unique SHA-1 hash.

object database

The storage system in Git that contains all versions of project files and metadata, organized by SHA-1 hashes.

object identifier (oid)

A unique SHA-1 hash that identifies a Git object, ensuring data integrity and enabling content-addressable storage.

object name

Another term for the SHA-1 hash that uniquely identifies a Git object in the repository.

object type

The classification of Git objects, including blob (file content), tree (directory structure), commit, and tag.

octopus

A Git merge involving more than two branches simultaneously, creating a commit with multiple parents.

organization

A shared account on Git hosting platforms where businesses and open-source projects can collaborate across many projects.

organization owner

A user with administrative privileges for an organization account on Git hosting platforms.

orphan

A branch in Git with no parent commit, typically used to start a new history unrelated to existing branches.

outside collaborator

A user granted access to a repository but not a member of the organization that owns the repository.

overlay

A Git feature that allows files from one branch to temporarily override files in another branch without merging.

owner

The user or organization with administrative rights to a Git repository, controlling access and settings.

pack

A compressed file format used by Git to store multiple objects efficiently, reducing repository size.

pack index

A file that provides fast random access to objects stored within a packfile in Git.

parent

A commit from which another commit is derived, establishing the hierarchical relationship in Git history.

parent team

A team in a Git platform that grants its permissions to nested sub-teams within an organization.

participating notifications

Alerts received when you're directly involved in repository activities like being assigned or mentioned.

pathspec

A pattern used in Git commands to limit the scope of operations to specific files or directories.

peel

The process of recursively dereferencing a Git object to reveal its underlying object type.

per-worktree ref

A reference specific to a particular working tree in a Git repository with multiple worktrees.

permalink

A URL that points to a specific version of a file or directory in a Git repository, ensuring consistent reference.

personal account

An individual account on Git platforms, used for personal projects and contributions.

pickaxe

A Git feature for searching the repository history to find when a particular change was introduced.

pinned repository

A featured repository prominently displayed on a user's or organization's profile page on their Git hosting platform of choice.

plumbing

Low-level Git commands that expose internal workings, primarily used for scripting and advanced operations.

porcelain

High-level Git commands designed for everyday use, providing a user-friendly interface to common version control tasks.

pre-receive hooks

Server-side scripts that run before pushed commits are accepted, used to enforce policies or perform checks.

primary email address

The main email associated with a Git account, used for communications and commit author identification.