GitHub is a collaboration platform that improves the workflow of developers working on a wide variety of projects.
With over 25 million users, the tool has become an essential part of the developer toolkit.
To better understand what GitHub is and what this service offers, check out our article.
What is GitHub?
GitHub is a platform that allows you to store and manage programming code, as well as record changes.
The tool also hosts projects in the cloud, enabling collaborative development and version control through Git.
This allows developers to create shared projects and track their results, as well as offering social features that connect developers with users.
Users can use the platform to download applications and contribute through suggestions or forum discussions on the topics covered.
What is Git?
To truly understand what GitHub is, we need to know what Git is.
Git is a software version control system (VCS) designed to record changes and coordinate a team’s efforts in a shared repository.
The software was developed in 2005 and has become one of the most widely used VCSs by developers in their projects.
Using this platform allows teams to work in a practical and efficient way.
This is possible because version control offers the possibility of making a copy of the local source code on personal computers to make changes and then upload a new version of the code.
Git saves changes in independent versions, which is important because it does not affect the original file.
This allows you to compare the changes made, check who updated the code, and assess when an error occurred in order to revert it.
In other words, all team members have access to a history that brings together all the changes made and can take action to improve the code they are working on.
Getting started with GitHub
1. Create a repository
The repository is where a project’s data is stored. This data can be programming code, images, text, and other types of files.
To create a repository, click on the “+” icon in the top right menu on your page, then select “New repository.”
Fill in the repository with the following data:
- Short and concise name
- Short description
- Define whether the project is public or private
- Add a text file with comments about the project
After that, click “Create repository” and confirm the creation.
2. Create a new branch
Branching allows you to create multiple versions of a project without affecting your initial code.
The platform works with a main branch called Main, from which branches can be created by generating copies of the project with new functions and allowing testing without generating errors in the work already done.
Check out how to generate new branches:
- Access your repository and click on the “Code” tab.
- Click on the “Main” button.
- Choose the name of the new branch and its attributes.
- Click on “Create branch.”
3. Save your changes by committing
For the changes to be made, you need to confirm them by committing.
Check out how to keep the changes made in a branch by saving your repository:
- Select the branch from the “Main” menu.
- Select the file you want to change.
- Click on the pencil icon and start editing.
- Write a description of the changes you have made.
- Click on the “Commit changes” button to send the new version to your repository.
4. Create a pull request
To add changes you have just made to a project or propose improvements to a collaborative project, you need to make a pull request.
A pull request is a tool that proposes changes, but requires them to be reviewed by someone else before your contribution can be incorporated.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a pull request:
- Go to the “Pull requests” tab in your repository.
- Click on “New pull request.”
- In “Compare changes,” select the desired branch and compare it with “Main.”
- Make the necessary revisions to the changes before submitting them.
- Click on “Create pull request.”
- Write a title for your request and add a description of the changes.
- Confirm by clicking on “Create pull request.”
5. Incorporate the changes
After reviewing and approving the request, it’s time to incorporate the desired changes into the main branch.
Here’s how to do it:
- Click “Merge pull request.”
- Select “Confirm merge” to confirm.
- A message stating that the changes have been successfully made will appear.
- After incorporating the changes, you can safely delete the branch by clicking “Delete branch.”
Best courses for learning how to use Git and GitHub
Git and GitHub Course: From Basic to Advanced – Gist and GitHub Pages
The purpose of this Git and GitHub course is to teach you everything from the most basic to the most advanced concepts of these tools.
The content presents tips and techniques for managing and administering your repository.
The classes teach Git applied in the practice of a developer, from its fundamental commands, GitHub complete with pull requests, code review, creation of gists to share code, and much more.
Workload: 8.5 hours
Certificate: Offers a certificate of completion.
Main topics:
- Introduction and installation
- Git fundamentals
- Working with branches
- Repository sharing and updating
- Repository analysis and inspection
- Improving project commits
- Exploring and understanding GitHub
- Markdown from basic to advanced
- Project – Portfolio with GitHub Pages
Access type: Lifetime access to the Udemy platform.
Learn Git and GitHub in 3 days + Real projects
The purpose of this material is to teach you everything you need to know about Git and GitHub, regardless of your level of experience.
The content starts from scratch with basic installations and configurations, progressing to creating repositories, commits, and working with branches.
More advanced lessons teach conflict management, using pull requests, and continuous integration.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion offered.
Main topics:
- Download and installation
- Your first repository
- Tracking files
- Branches
- Push
- Pull changes
- VSCode for GitHub
Access type: Lifetime full access on the Udemy platform.
Git and GitHub Course: From Basic to Advanced 2025
This course teaches Git and GitHub from basic to advanced levels with up-to-date content, presenting the tools and concepts needed to work professionally with code versioning.
The content taught is applicable to web development and multi-platform mobile development.
The classes provide practical examples from everyday life, preparing professionals to master Git and its main commands.
Workload: 8 hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion offered.
Main topics:
- Installation for Windows and Mac
- Git fundamentals
- Using GitHub
- Working with branches
- Using Git Flow
- Advanced commits
- Conflict resolution
- Advanced Git
Tipo de acesso: Acesso total vitalício na plataforma Udemy.
Have you learned what GitHub is?
We hope our article has helped you understand what GitHub is and how it differs from Git.