MASTERING GIT Part 5: Merging Two Branches in GitHub: A Step-by-Step Guide
Merging branches in GitHub is a fundamental operation in version control that allows developers to combine changes from one branch into another. Whether you’re working on a feature branch, fixing a bug, or managing a long-term development branch, understanding how to merge branches is crucial. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps of merging two branches in GitHub, complete with explanations and commands.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
- A GitHub account
- A repository with at least two branches
- Git installed on your local machine
- Basic knowledge of Git and GitHub
Step 1: Clone the Repository
Start by cloning the repository to your local machine if you haven’t already. Replace <repository_url> with the actual URL of your GitHub repository.
git clone <repository_url>
cd <repository_directory>Step 2: Check Current Branch
Ensure you are on the branch where you want to merge changes into. You can list all local branches and check the current branch with:
git branchTo switch to a different branch, use:
git checkout <branch_name>Step 3: Update the Current Branch
It’s essential to have the latest changes from the target branch (the one you want to merge into). Fetch the latest updates from the remote repository:
git fetch originStep 4: Merge the Target Branch
Now, you are ready to merge the target branch into your current branch. Use the git merge command:
git merge <target_branch>For example, if you want to merge the feature/new-feature branch into the current branch:
git merge feature/new-featureStep 5: Resolve Conflicts (If Any)
If there are conflicting changes between the branches you’re merging, Git will prompt you to resolve them. Open the conflicted files, resolve the conflicts, and save the changes.
After resolving conflicts, add the modified files to the staging area and continue the merge:
git add <conflicted_files>
git commitStep 6: Push Changes to GitHub
Once the merge is complete and there are no conflicts or after you’ve resolved them, push the changes to GitHub:
git push origin <current_branch>Step 7: Confirm the Merge on GitHub
Go to your GitHub repository in a web browser and navigate to the “Pull Requests” tab. You should see your recently pushed branch with a message indicating that you pushed new changes.
Click the “Compare & pull request” button.
Step 8: Create a Pull Request
In the pull request interface, you can review the changes. Provide a title and description for your pull request to explain the purpose of the merge.
Click the “Create pull request” button.
Step 9: Review and Merge
Now, the pull request is created, and team members can review the changes. Once approved, click the “Merge pull request” button.
Step 10: Confirm the Merge
GitHub will ask you to confirm the merge. You can choose to delete the source branch after merging if it’s no longer needed.
Click the “Confirm merge” button.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully merged two branches in GitHub.
Merging branches is a fundamental aspect of collaboration and version control. By following these steps, you can efficiently integrate changes from one branch into another, ensuring your project stays organized and up-to-date.
