What is Git?
Why Interviewers Ask This
Interviewers use this question to quickly assess whether a candidate has the foundational knowledge required for Git & GitHub development. It reveals whether you understand the building blocks that more complex concepts rely on.
Answer
Git is a free, open-source distributed version control system (DVCS) created by Linus Torvalds in 2005 to manage the Linux kernel source code. It tracks changes to files over time, allowing you to recall specific versions later, compare changes, collaborate with others, and revert to previous states if something goes wrong. Key characteristics: Distributed — every developer has a full copy of the repository (history + files) on their local machine, not just a snapshot; this means you can work offline, and there is no single point of failure. Fast — most operations are local (no network required). Integrity — every object (commit, file, directory) is checksummed with SHA-1, making it impossible to change history without detection. Non-linear development — powerful branching and merging enables multiple parallel lines of development. Git stores data as snapshots of the project, not as a list of file-based changes (unlike older VCS like SVN/CVS which store deltas).
Pro Tip
Demonstrate both theoretical understanding and practical experience. Say what it is, then give an example of how you actually used it in a Git & GitHub codebase.