> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://furkhan324.gitbook.io/workspace/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://furkhan324.gitbook.io/workspace/dev/git/git-concepts.md).

# Concepts

### Git Commits & Branches

A lot of the confusion about git comes from the naming of its commands. For instance, a commit often misleads people into thinking it encapsulates the difference between two states of a repository. This is incorrect.

Let's clear up some of this confusion:

> A **commit** is simply a complete snapshot of the entire repository at a given time. No more, no less. It's kind of like looking at a version of your files frozen at a certain time. 

> A **branch** is simply a pointer to a specific commit in the tree of commits.

Thus a git repo is simply a tree of commits with pointers at various nodes in the tree.

```
(C1) -> (C2)
           ^ HEAD: Master     
```

### Other concepts

* What is the HEAD?
  * HEAD is what the current branch is. HEAD refers to the branch that is checked out
* What is a tag?
  * Tags can be used to mark certain versions/releases of a given application. Think of this as a bookmark to a certain commit.