What is git pull?
Why Interviewers Ask This
This is a classic screening question for Git & GitHub roles. Hiring managers ask it early in interviews to gauge your baseline understanding and determine if you can communicate technical concepts clearly.
Answer
git pull fetches changes from the remote repository and immediately merges them into the current local branch. It is a combination of two operations: git fetch (downloads remote changes) + git merge (integrates them). Basic usage: git pull — pull from the tracked remote branch; git pull origin main — explicitly pull from origin's main branch. Pull with rebase (cleaner history): git pull --rebase — instead of creating a merge commit, replays your local commits on top of the fetched commits. This creates a linear history. Can be set as default: git config --global pull.rebase true. Pull options: git pull --no-commit — fetch and merge but don't automatically commit; git pull --ff-only — only pull if fast-forward is possible (fails if diverged — safe option to avoid accidental merge commits). Common issue: if local and remote have diverged, a simple pull creates a merge commit. Best practice: git fetch first to review remote changes, then decide to merge or rebase. git pull is one of the most used commands in daily workflow.
Pro Tip
If you're unsure about a detail, say so honestly and explain your reasoning. Interviewers respect candidates who can think through uncertainty rather than bluffing.