What Git means
Git lets you see who changed what, undo mistakes and work on new features in branches without breaking the live site. It is the standard for software and website code.
Why it matters for your website
Git keeps a full history of every change to your site's code, so mistakes can be undone and you can see who changed what. It also lets several developers work at once without overwriting each other. If you ever change developers, a Git history makes the handoff far smoother.
Example
After an update breaks a bakery's online order form, the developer uses Git to see exactly what changed and rolls back to the working version in minutes.
Tips
- Ask your developer to keep your site's code in Git from day one.
- Make sure the business has its own access to the repository.
- Write short, clear notes with each change so history is easy to follow.
Common mistakes
- Storing passwords or API keys in the Git history.
- Editing files directly on the live server, outside of version control.
Questions about Git
What is Git?
A version control system that tracks every change to your code.
Is Git the same as GitHub?
No. Git is the version control tool itself. GitHub is a service that hosts Git repositories online and adds collaboration features.
Do WordPress sites use Git?
They can. Developers often keep themes and custom plugins in Git, though content in the database is usually backed up separately.
