git fetch

Learn to download remote changes with git fetch.

What Is git fetch?

git fetch downloads new commits and branch information from a remote repository into the local repository. However, it does not change files in the current working branch or automatically merge changes.

git fetch origin

This allows you to inspect remote updates before changing your working branch.

Local State After Fetch

After fetching, commit information from the remote repository is available locally. However, the files in the current branch remain unchanged; you can inspect the changes and merge them separately.

git fetch origin
git status

This is a safe first step for checking remote updates.

Exercise Fetch from the Origin Remote

Download updates from the origin remote. Then check the local repository status with git status.

Show example solution

git fetch origin
git status

Test yourself

What happens when git fetch origin is executed?
- The remote repository is replaced with the local repository.
- Remote changes are downloaded but not merged into the working branch.
- Remote changes are applied directly to the current files.
- The local commit history is completely deleted.
Show answer

Remote changes are downloaded but not merged into the working branch. — <code>git fetch</code> downloads remote information but does not automatically merge it into the current working branch.
Retrieve Updated Commit Information
```
git fetch ____
```
Show answer
```
git fetch origin
```
Fetch Operation Features

git fetch

Downloads remote information
origin

Remote repository name
download

Retrieves data locally
no merge

Does not merge automatically

Next lesson: fetch vs pull

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