Git remote workflows

A remote is another copy of a Git repository, usually hosted on GitHub. Remote commands transfer commits between your local repository and that server.

Local and remote-tracking branches

Your local main branch and origin/main are different references. origin/main records the last remote state fetched locally; it does not update until you fetch.

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flowchart TD
    A[Remote repository] -->|fetch / pull| B[Local repository]
    B -->|push| A
    B --> C[Local branch]
    B --> D[Remote-tracking branch]

The remote name origin is conventional, not special. It can be renamed or replaced.

Before synchronizing

git status --short --branch
git remote -v
git branch --verbose --verbose

These commands show your working-tree state, remote URLs, and tracking relationships.