Understanding Git and GitHub
What is Git?
A software on your computer that tracks changes in your code and lets you manage different versions of a project. It is a version control tool.
Example : Think of Git as a camera 📸 that records every change you make to your project.
What is GitHub?
A website/platform/service where you can store, share it with others, and work together or collaborate on the same project.
Example: GitHub is the photo album ☁️ where you upload those records so others can access and collaborate.
Before we dive into the example of Git and GitHub, let’s first understand one important concept in Git — “Commit”
What is a commit?
Whenever we make an important change to our project, we create a commit. Each commit represents a new state or version of our project.
A commit is basically a saved checkpoint of your project.
Imagine you’re working on an assignment. You finish an important part and say:
“Okay, this part is done. Let me save this as a checkpoint.”
That checkpoint is called a commit in Git.
Commit = the action/checkpoint Git records
Version = the state of your project at that point
You can also give the commit a message describing what you did:
Commit 1: Added introduction → Assignment Version 1
Commit 2: Added main content → Assignment Version 2
Commit 3: Added images → Assignment Version 3
Commit 4: Fixed spelling mistakes → Assignment Version 4
So, whenever you make an important change, you can create a commit.
Example to Understand Git and GitHub together
Think of you using Git and GitHub for school assignment:
Imagine you’re writing a school assignment.
You start with your introduction.
You tell Git:
Commit: “Added introduction” — Version 1
Then you add more content.
Commit: “Added main content” — Version 2
Get Bhushan Shelar’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Then you add images.
Commit: “Added images” — Version 3
Then you fix mistakes.
Commit: “Fixed spelling mistakes” — Version 4
Git now has a history of your project:
Assignment
↓
Commit 1 →Version 1 →Added introduction
↓
Commit 2 → Version 2 → Added main content
↓
Commit 3 → Version 3 → Added images
↓
Commit 4 → Version 4 → Fixed spelling mistakes
If you make a mistake later, you can look back at previous commits and potentially restore an earlier version.
So, if you accidentally delete an important paragraph in Version 2, you can use Git to look at or restore an older version.
🌐 Now where does GitHub come in?
Your assignment is currently only on your computer.
You want your friend to see it, or you want to keep a backup online.
You can upload your Git project to GitHub.
Think of GitHub as an online storage + sharing place for your project.
So:
Your computer:
Assignment + Git → keeps track of all changes
Internet:
GitHub → stores your project online
Now your friend can get the project from GitHub and work on it too.
For example:
👨🎓 You → write the assignment
⬆️ Upload to GitHub
👩🎓 Friend → downloads it, makes changes
⬆️ Uploads changes to GitHub
👨🎓 You → gets those changes
The easiest way to remember
Git = “Who changed what, and when?”
GitHub = “Put the project online so I can store, share, and collaborate.”
Every expert was once a beginner who decided not to stop learning.
You don’t have to learn everything at once.
Start with one concept. Understand it. Practice it. Then move to the next.
If this made Git and GitHub a little easier to understand, that’s the goal!
I’ll be sharing more easy-to-understand tech concepts, practical examples, and simple notes to help you learn without getting overwhelmed.
Follow for more tech content, learning resources, and updates — explained simply.
