What is the difference between pull and merge requests in GitHub?

GitHub serves as a central working hub for developers all around the world and allows them to share their development with each other and work collaboratively.

Pull and merge requests in GitHub

Two terms that are often used interchangeably in the git world are pull requests and merge requests. While these terms are quite similar to each other, it's critical to understand the key differences between the two terms.

Pull request in GitHub

In the context of GitHub, a pull request, often known as PR, is an enhanced feature that allows us to propose changes to the main repository. A pull request includes a request that the changes proposed by us be reviewed and then merged into the main branch.

Whenever we open a pull request, we are essentially suggesting a set of changes made in our branch that could be considered for merging into another branch. This main branch into which the changes are merged is typically the original repository.

Pull request button on GitHub
Pull request button on GitHub

The pull request process allows us to iterate over our changes and request feedback before our code is merged into someone else's branch or the original repository. Through this process, we can incorporate the necessary changes and once they have been approved by the relevant parties, the repository manager can merge the pull request.

Overall, the pull request in GitHub serves as a feature for proposing, discussing, reviewing, and consequently merging the code changes into the respective branch of the repository.

Merge request in GitHub

In simple terms, a merge request serves the same purpose as a pull request. It is basically used to initiate a collaboration between different relevant parties to seek feedback. This process allows the integration of relevant code modifications in a safe and controlled manner.

The process of merge request involves the following steps.

  1. Create a branch

  2. Make changes locally to this branch

  3. Pushing the changes to the forked repository

  4. Open the merge request to the target repository

The opened merge request, therefore, presents all the modifications made in the code, clearly indicating the added, modified, and deleted portions of the code. In addition to that, it also showcases the descriptions, comments, and references added to the code. This helps the reviewers to get contextual information about the changes made.

Later on, the reviewers can assess the merge request by thoroughly reviewing the proposed changes. Once approved by the repository manager they can merge the proposed changes, thus, incorporating the modifications into the main branch of the targeted repository.

How do pull and merge requests work in GitHub

Pull and merge requests often go hand in hand in GitHub. The diagram below illustrates the workflow of these requests.

Workflow of pull and merge requests
Workflow of pull and merge requests
  1. The developer forks a new branch where they can incorporate changes and modifications according to their needs and feasibility.

  2. The developer opens a pull request to receive feedback on the changes made by various relevant people.

  3. The modified code can be merged into the master branch after it's been reviewed and approved by the repository manager.

Comparison between pull and merge requests

The table illustrated below provides a clear comparison between both request methods.

Pull Request

Merge Request

Usage

Primarily used in GitHub

Primarily used in other platforms like

GitLab

Purpose

Allows developers to receive

reviews about their proposed

changes

Allows developers to merge their

changes into the original repository

Command

Uses git pull command

uses git merge command

Primary

Platform

GitHub

Various platforms for example GitLab, BitBucket

Summary

We can say that pull and merge methods basically perform the same function. They ultimately allow developers to receive feedback and reviews on their modified codes before merging them into the original repository. However, they differ depending upon which platforms they are used.

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