If you’re learning to code or stepping into web development, chances are you’ve heard of Git and GitHub. While they sound similar and are often used together, they serve very different purposes. In this blog, we’ll break down the key differences between Git and GitHub in simple terms — so you’ll never confuse them again!
🔧 What is Git?
Git is a version control system (VCS) that lets you track changes in your code over time. It runs locally on your computer.
🔹 Imagine you’re writing a book and want to save multiple versions as you revise. Git helps you do that for code — easily and efficiently.
🧠 Core Features of Git:
- Tracks every change in your code
- Lets you revert to previous versions
- Allows branching and merging for collaborative coding
- Works offline
🔍 Common Git Commands:
git init– Start a new Git repositorygit add .– Stage your changesgit commit -m "message"– Save your changes with a messagegit log– View commit history
🌐 What is GitHub?
GitHub is a cloud-based hosting platform for Git repositories. It helps you store, share, and collaborate on your Git projects online.
🔹 Think of GitHub like Google Drive — but specifically for your code.
🧠 Core Features of GitHub:
- Remote backup for your Git repositories
- Collaborative coding with pull requests and code reviews
- Open-source community and contribution platform
- Issue tracking and project management tools
🔍 Common GitHub Actions:
- Create and fork repositories
- Push/pull code from remote repo
- Review and merge pull requests
- Collaborate with teams
🆚 Git vs GitHub: Key Differences
| Feature | Git | GitHub |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Version Control System | Git Repository Hosting Service |
| Works Offline? | Yes | No (Requires internet) |
| Usage | Track code changes locally | Share and collaborate online |
| Maintained by | Open Source Community | Microsoft |
| Command-line based | Yes | No (Web-based UI) |
🎯 Why You Need Both
To manage your projects properly in 2025 and beyond, you use Git for version control and GitHub to store and share that version-controlled code.
✅ Git is the engine. GitHub is the garage where you keep and maintain your vehicle.