How to clone a git repository

In this article, we understand what is git repo (repository) is and how to clone a git repository using the git command. So let’s start first with what is a git repo.

How to clone a git repository

 

What is Git repo?

A Repo or repository is a collection of files that are stored and managed on GitHub. Repositories can contain files and folders, as well as other sub-folder in GitHub.

Each and every repository has its name and is stored in a user’s or organization’s account on GitHub. Users can create, edit, and delete files in a repository, as well as track changes to the files over time.

GitHub Repositories can be either public or private. Public repositories are visible to anyone, while private repositories are only visible to the user or organization that owns that repository.

Repositories are commonly used to store and manage code for projects, but they can also be used to store other types of files, such as documents, images, videos, and other metadata files. Git is a version control system that is used to manage the files in a repository. It allows users to track changes to the files over time, collaborate with other users on the same files, and revert back to earlier versions of the files if required.

 

How to clone a git repository

 

To clone a Git repository from GitHub Open the terminal or PowerShell editor and use the below command with the specified repository URL-

 

For example:

 

git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git

 

This will create a local copy of the repository on your local machine. You can then navigate to the repository directory and start working on the changes.

If the repository is public then that will clone directly and if you try to clone a private repo, you will need to provide your GitHub credentials in order to clone it. You can do this by using an HTTPS URL and providing your username and password like the below-

git clone https://username:[email protected]/user/repo.git

 

Conclusion

I hope now you have a basic understanding of what is git repo and how to clone a git repository on your local machine.

Posted in git