Learn how Git uses snapshots and commits to track changes, enabling powerful version control and project history management.

Understanding Git’s Snapshots and Commits

Git's power comes from its unique way of storing project history using snapshots and commits. Unlike traditional version control systems that track file differences, Git captures the state of the entire project with each commit.

What is a Git Snapshot?

A snapshot in Git is a record of what all your project files look like at a given point in time. Every time you commit, Git takes a snapshot of your working directory and stores it efficiently.

If files haven't changed, Git doesn't duplicate them—instead, it references the previous unchanged version.

What is a Git Commit?

A commit in Git is a saved snapshot of your project. Commits contain:

• A unique SHA-1 hash identifier
• Author information (name and email)
• A commit message describing the change
• References to parent commits (for history tracking)

git commit -m \\"Your commit message\\"

Visualizing Commit History

After making multiple commits, you can visualize the commit history using:

git log --oneline

This shows a condensed history with commit hashes and messages.

Summary

Understanding snapshots and commits is fundamental in Git. Each commit captures your entire project state at that point, making it easy to revert, track changes, and collaborate efficiently.

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