Top 50 GIT Interview Questions and Answers to Know

GIT is a widely used version control system that allows developers to manage and track changes to their codebase. It has become an integral part of the software development process, which you can learn from online web development certification courses. If you are preparing for a software development job interview, you will likely be asked about GIT.

In this article, we will cover the top GIT interview questions that will help you prepare for your next interview. These interview questions emphasise a range of topics, including GIT basics, branching and merging, resolving conflicts, and more.

Whether you are a seasoned GIT user or just getting started, read on to ensure that you are well-prepared for your next GIT-related interview.

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Q1. What is GIT and how does it differ from other version control systems?

GIT is a distributed version control system that enables numerous developers to collaborate on the same codebase at the same time. GIT, unlike other version control systems, does not store and manage code changes on a central server.

Q2. How does GIT store data?

GIT stores data in a compressed and encrypted format within a hidden folder called .GIT in the root directory of the project.

Q3. What is a repository in GIT?

A repository in GIT is a directory that contains all the files and folders that make up a project. It also contains the history of changes made to the project, including who made them and when.

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Q4. What is a branch in GIT?

A branch in GIT is a separate line of development that allows developers to work on different features of a project simultaneously without affecting the main codebase.

Q5. How do you merge branches in GIT?

To merge branches in GIT, you can use the "GIT merge" command. This command combines the changes from one branch into another. This is one of the most important git interview questions and answers.

Q6. What is a GIT commit?

A GIT commit is a record of changes made to a repository. It includes a message describing the changes and the author's name and email.

Q7. What is a GIT pull request?

A GIT pull request is a feature that allows developers to propose changes to a repository's codebase. It allows other developers to review the changes before they are merged into the main codebase.

Q8. What is GIT rebase?

GIT rebase is a feature that allows developers to modify the history of a GIT repository by moving, adding, or deleting commits.

Q9. How do you revert a commit in GIT?

To revert a commit in GIT, you can use the "GIT revert" command. This command creates a new commit that undoes the changes made by the previous commit.

Q10. What is GIT stash?

GIT stash is a feature that allows developers to temporarily save changes that are not yet ready to be committed. It allows them to switch branches or work on other features without losing their work. You must prepare these kinds of git interview questions and answers for a better performance.

Q11. How do you resolve merge conflicts in GIT?

To resolve merge conflicts in GIT, you need to edit the conflicting files manually and then commit the changes. You can use tools like GIT's built-in merge tool or third-party merge tools to help resolve conflicts.

Q12. What is a Git remote?

A Git remote is a reference to a repository hosted on a server, typically on a platform like GitHub or GitLab. It allows collaboration and synchronisation between local and remote repositories.

Q13. How do you add files to the staging area in Git?

You can add files to the staging area using the command git add <file(s)>. This prepares the files for the next commit.

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Q14. What is the purpose of the .gitignore file?

The .gitignore file specifies files and directories that should be ignored by Git. This is useful for excluding files like log files, temporary files, and build artifacts from version control.

Q15. What is a Git branch strategy?

A branch strategy defines how branches are used in a project. It includes naming conventions, branching models (e.g., Gitflow, feature branching), and policies for merging branches. You must know these kinds of git interview questions and answers.

Q16. What is a Git tag and how is it different from a branch?

A Git tag is a reference to a specific commit in Git history. It is typically used to mark important points, like releases. Unlike a branch, a tag is static and does not change with new commits.

Q17. What is the purpose of rebasing in Git?

This is one of the top git interview questions and answers. Rebasing in Git allows you to incorporate changes from one branch into another by moving or combining commits. It can result in a cleaner, linear history.

Q18. Explain the difference between git merge and git rebase.

git merge combines changes from one branch into another and creates a new merge commit. git rebase moves or combines commits from one branch to another, creating a linear history.

Q19. What is a Git submodule?

A Git submodule is a repository embedded within another repository. It allows you to include external repositories as a part of your project.

Q20. What is a Git hook?

A Git hook is a custom script that can be triggered at specific points in the Git workflow, such as before or after a commit, push, or merge. Hooks allow for automation and customisation of Git processes.

Q21. What is Git bisect used for?

Git bisect is a tool used for binary search through commits to find the specific commit that introduced a bug or regression. This is a must know git interview questions and answers.

Q22. How do you squash commits in Git?

To squash commits in Git, you can use an interactive rebase with the command git rebase -i HEAD~n, where n is the number of commits you want to squash. You then choose the commits to squash and provide a new commit message.

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Q23. What is the purpose of a Git cherry-pick?

Git cherry-pick allows you to apply a specific commit from one branch to another, without bringing along the entire branch's history.

Q24. How do you undo the last commit in Git?

To undo the last commit in Git, you can use the command git reset HEAD~1. This keeps the changes in your working directory while removing the commit.

Q25. What is the purpose of the Git reflog?

This is one of the top git interview questions and answers. The Git reflog is a record of all the operations that change the repository's HEAD. It allows you to recover lost commits or branches.

Q26. Explain the difference between a fast-forward merge and a regular merge in Git.

A fast-forward merge occurs when the target branch has no new commits since the source branch was created. It simply moves the target branch pointer to the source branch. A regular merge creates a new commit to integrate changes from the source branch into the target branch.

Q27. What is a Git conflict, and how do you resolve it?

A Git conflict occurs when Git cannot automatically merge changes from different branches. To resolve it, you need to manually edit the conflicting files, remove the conflict markers, and then commit the changes.

Q28. What is the purpose of Git subversion (SVN) bridges like git-svn?

Git-SVN bridges allow Git to interact with Subversion repositories. They enable developers to work with Git locally while collaborating with teams using Subversion.

Q29. What is the Git worktree feature?

The Git worktree feature allows you to have multiple working directories associated with a single Git repository. This is useful for working on different branches simultaneously. You must prepare these kinds of git interview questions and answers to excel in the interviews.

Q30. How does Git handle binary files?

Git stores binary files as blobs, but it is not optimised for managing changes in binary files. For versioning large binary assets, Git LFS (Large File Storage) is recommended.

Q31. What is Gitflow workflow?

Gitflow is a branching model that defines specific branches for features, releases, and hotfixes. It provides a structured approach to managing development and release cycles.

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Q32. What is the purpose of Git hooks in a continuous integration (CI) environment?

Git hooks in a CI environment can trigger automated tests, builds, or deployment pipelines whenever code changes are pushed to the repository. This helps maintain code quality and consistency.

Q33. Explain the difference between git fetch and git pull.

Git fetch downloads new objects and branches from a remote repository but does not apply them to the local working directory. git pull combines a git fetch with a git merge to automatically incorporate changes into the local working directory.

Q34. What is a Git revert commit?

This is one of the top git interview questions and answers. A Git revert commit creates a new commit that undoes the changes introduced by a specific commit. It is a safe way to reverse changes without altering Git history.

Q35. What is Git bisect used for, and how do you perform a bisect operation?

Git bisect is used to find the commit that introduced a bug or regression by performing a binary search through commits. You start with a known "good" and "bad" commit and let Git automatically check out commits in between until the faulty commit is found. Use git bisect start, git bisect bad, and git bisect good commands to initiate and guide the process.

Q36. What is a Git rebase interactive and when might you use it?

Git rebase interactive (git rebase -i) allows you to interactively modify the commit history. You can use it to reorder, squash, edit, or drop commits during a rebase operation. It is useful for cleaning up commit history and preparing changes for integration.

Q37. What is Git blame and how is it used?

Git blame is a command used to view the commit and author information for each line of a file. It helps identify who made changes to specific lines and when, which is useful for tracking down the origin of code issues or for historical context.

Q38. What is Git cherry-pick, and what are its use cases?

Git cherry-pick allows you to select and apply a specific commit from one branch to another. It is useful when you want to bring in a specific change from another branch without merging the entire branch. This is a must know git interview questions and answers to prepare.

Q39. Explain the difference between a soft reset and a hard reset in Git.

A soft reset (git reset --soft) moves the branch pointer to a specified commit but leaves changes in the staging area. A hard reset (git reset --hard) moves the branch pointer and resets the staging area and working directory to the specified commit, discarding changes.

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Q40. What is a Git clean operation, and when should you use it?

Git clean is used to remove untracked files and directories from the working directory. It is helpful when you want to get rid of files that are not part of the Git repository, but use it with caution, as it permanently deletes files.

Q41. What is Git LFS, and why is it used?

This is one of the top git interview questions and answers you must prepare. Git LFS (Large File Storage) is an extension that handles large binary files more efficiently in Git. It replaces these files with pointers, reducing repository size. It is used for versioning large binary assets like images, audio, and video files.

Q42. What are Git hooks, and what are some common use cases for pre-commit hooks?

Git hooks are custom scripts that can be executed at specific points in Git's workflow. Common pre-commit hook use cases include enforcing code style checks, running unit tests, or preventing commits that do not adhere to project standards.

Q43. Explain the Git "detached HEAD" state and why it occurs.

The "detached HEAD" state occurs when the HEAD points to a specific commit rather than a branch. It typically happens when you check out a commit directly. Changes made in this state will not be associated with any branch until a new branch is created or the HEAD is moved to an existing branch.

Q44. How do you create and apply a Git patch?

To create a Git patch, use the git format-patch command. To apply a patch, use the git apply or git am command. Patches are useful for sharing changes between repositories or developers. These kinds of git interview questions and answers are considered as very essential.

Q45. What is Git sparse-checkout, and how can it be used to reduce repository size?

Git sparse-checkout is a feature that allows you to fetch only specific directories or files from a repository, reducing the size of your working directory. It is useful for working with large repositories when you only need a subset of the files.

Q46. What are Git notes, and how can they be used?

Git notes are annotations that can be attached to Git objects, such as commits or blobs. They are typically used to add supplementary information to commits without altering the commit itself. This can include reviewer feedback, references to issue trackers, or other metadata.

Q47. How to prepare for GIT interview questions?

Preparing for your GIT interview involves practicing answering potential GIT interview questions and reviewing any areas where you feel less confident. It is also helpful to review common industry practices related to version control systems like GIT. Remember, the key is not only knowing how to answer these GIT interview questions but also showing confidence and knowledge during the interview process!

Additionally, do research online or talk to people who have gone through this process before. This will give you an idea of what topics to focus on during your preparation. Next, review your own experience with GIT and identify areas where you might need improvement or more practice. Brush up on your understanding of basic concepts like branching, merging, and resolving conflicts.

It is also important to practice using GIT regularly leading up to the interview. Set up a personal project repository or contribute to an open-source project on GitHub so that you are comfortable navigating the system.

In addition to technical knowledge, soft skills such as communication and teamwork are crucial in any development role. Be prepared to discuss how you work collaboratively with others using tools like pull requests and code reviews. By following these steps, you will be well-prepared for any GIT interview question thrown at you.

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Q49. How to answer top GIT interview questions?

When preparing for GIT interview questions, it is essential to know how to answer the top GIT questions that may come your way. The following tips will help you provide clear and concise answers during the interview.

Firstly, ensure that you understand the question being asked before answering. It is easy to misinterpret a question and end up providing an irrelevant answer. Secondly, use relevant examples from previous projects or work experiences when answering the questions. This approach demonstrates your practical understanding of GIT beyond theoretical knowledge.

Thirdly, avoid giving one-word answers as they do not provide enough information about your level of experience with GIT. For example, instead of saying "yes" or "no," explain why you agree or disagree with a statement. Fourthly, demonstrate your problem-solving skills by offering possible solutions when faced with hypothetical scenarios in GIT projects.

Always be honest about what you know and do not know about GIT technology. If you are unsure about something ask for clarification rather than making assumptions which could lead to incorrect answers.

By following these tips on how to answer top GIT interview questions effectively will help increase your chances of landing that dream job opportunity in the field of GIT development!

Q50. What mistakes to avoid during GIT Interview Questions?

When it comes to GIT interview questions, candidates tend to make common mistakes that can cost them the job opportunity. Here are some of the most common mistakes you should avoid during your GIT interview:

Firstly, not properly preparing for the interview is a major mistake. You should research and practice commonly asked questions before attending any interview. This will help you feel more confident and prepared. Secondly, failing to understand GIT basics is another mistake many people make.

Make sure you have a good understanding of basic concepts like branching, merging and committing so that you are able to answer technical questions with ease.

Thirdly, being unable to demonstrate practical skills in GIT commands can also be an issue during interviews. Be sure to have hands-on experience with repositories so that you can showcase your skills during the interview.

It is essential not to provide irrelevant or inaccurate information as this could raise red flags about your suitability for the role. Always ensure that your answers align with what is expected from someone applying for a position in GIT development.

Conclusion

To wrap up, preparing for a GIT interview can be overwhelming. However, with the right resources and practice, you can ace it without much difficulty. The key is to thoroughly understand the fundamentals of GIT and practice regularly to hone your skills.

By familiarising yourself with these top GIT interview questions provided above, you will be able to approach any potential employer’s queries confidently. Remember that honesty is crucial during interviews. If you are not sure about an answer or concept, do not pretend otherwise.

With these tips in mind and adequate preparation time invested beforehand, you should feel confident enough to tackle even the most challenging GIT Interview Questions.