What is the difference between git rebase and git merge?
What is rebase vs pull?
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Learn how git rebase rewrites commit history for a cleaner project timeline. This blog compares git rebase and git merge, explains real-world use cases, and guides you on when and how to rebase effectively before submitting a pull request.
Git is a distributed version control system used by many developers to manage changes across one or more branches within a repository. A branch in Git allows a developer to isolate individual commits for a feature branch, while the main branch (sometimes referred to as the master branch) continues to develop independently.
This blog explains what git rebase does by walking through concepts such as git merge, git pull, remote branches, local repositories, and how git rebase can improve linear history and resolve unnecessary merge commits.
What Is Git Rebase?
When you run git rebase you instruct git to replay the local commits from your feature branch on top of the target branch, such as the main branch or master branch.
This rewrites history, producing rebase commits—new commits with identical content but different hashes. The original branch is replaced by the rebased branch, forming a cleaner, linear commit graph.
Why Use Git Rebase?
Using git rebasenlets you maintain a cleaner project history. Instead of a forked graph with merge commit noise, rebasing gives a single branch timeline that’s easier to navigate with tools likengit log.
It is particularly useful when working in a local repository, especially before creating a pull request, as it allows you to rephrase unnecessary merge commits into clean rebase commits.
How Git Rebase Works in Practice
Start with a feature branch off the master branch. As development continues, the master branch may get new commits. Using git rebase main on your current branch, Git will take each local commit and reapply it onto the tip of main:
Check out the feature branch.
Run git pull or git fetch to update the remote.
Run git rebase main.
Resolve any conflicts commit by commit.
Finish with git rebase --continue , or abort if needed.
Once done, your rebased branch appears as if you started working from the latest main branch, with no merge commit clutter.
Check out this LinkedIn post which explains "What Does Git Rebase Actually Do?" by describing how your branch’s changes reapply on top of another base, producing cleaner linear history— By Manas Sharma
— LinkedIn Post
Git Rebase vs Git Merge
Compare these two integration commands:
git merge
Integrates one branch into another by creating a merge commit.
Keeps the complete history, including forks.
Preserves context: you see when two branches diverged and came back together.
Useful when merging a long-lived feature branch into main.
git rebase
Rewrites commits by copying them onto another branch.
Results in fewer merge commits.
Ideal for a clean, linear history, especially on short-lived feature branches.
Here’s a Mermaid diagram that visually compares the behavior of git merge and git rebase in a clean, side-by-side illustration.
You want to update your local work with changes from the remote branch.
You prefer fast-forward merge later, minimizing merge commits.
For example, if you and a coworker share a feature branch, you may rebase your current branch onto the remote branch. This is safe because only your commits are rewritten, not history prior to the base.
Rebase vs Pull
By default, git pull fetches from a remote repository and merges changes into your current branch, possibly creating a merge commit.
If you prefer rebase behavior, you can use:
1git pull --rebase
This applies remote changes to your branch by rebasing local commits onto the updated remote. It avoids unnecessary merge commits for small changes.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Rebase
Benefits
Results in linear history and cleaner project history.
Avoids merge commits, which can clutter git log .
Easier to track individual changes and new commits.
Supports fast forward merge when merging the feature into the main later.
Drawbacks
Rewrites entire history, meaning original commits are abandoned.
It can cause issues if your feature branch is already shared with others and pushed.
Conflicts may occur on each commit during rebase, especially if it's long-lived.
Interactive Rebasing and Squashing
You can refine your branch history using interactive rebase:
1git rebase -i <base commit>
This allows you to combine multiple individual commits into a single commit, consolidating your entire work into a single, comprehensive commit message. This method helps produce a tidy branch before integration.
After squashing, you can rebase the branch onto the main branch and merge cleanly using a fast-forward merge.
Do You Need to Rebase Before a Pull Request?
If your team uses a review process such as a pull request, you should clean up your feature branch before opening the PR. Use interactive rebase to:
Remove messy or fix-up commits.
Ensure your branch is rebased on top of the latest main.
Submit with a clean history and no unnecessary merge commits.
Never rebase after a pull request is open, especially on a branch shared among many developers: rewriting shared history will break others’ work.
Git Rebase vs Merge vs Fast Forward
Merge always creates a merge commit.
Rebase re-applies your feature commits onto another branch.
If your feature branch is already rebased onto the latest main, merging results in a fast-forward merge, which moves the main pointer forward without a merge commit.
This combination enables a clean, single-branch, linear history.
Final Reflections on What Does Git Rebase Do?
git rebase
plays a critical role in managing a repository’s history in a cleaner, more readable format. By replaying your local commits onto the target branch, you avoid unnecessary merge commits, maintain a linear history, and prepare your feature branch for seamless integration via fast forward merge.
While powerful, rebasing incurs risks if used on shared branches—so it’s best reserved for private work before a pull request. A precise and disciplined workflow, utilizing git rebase, enhances code review, project clarity, and repository hygiene.
What You Learn & What to Do Next
You now understand what does git rebase do and how it differs from git merge, git pull, and interactive rebase.
For your next practical step, try this workflow:
Create a feature branch.
Make several local commits.
Use git fetch and git rebase main.
Resolve conflicts along the way.
Use git rebase -i
to squash and clean commits.
Finally, merge into the main via git merge --ff-only.
By following that flow, you’ll gain confidence using rebase to maintain linear history, avoid merge commits, and deliver tidy code ready for team review.
