Git Branch Merging: Merge vs. Rebase vs. Cherry-Pick – A Complete Guide

Introduction

When working with Git, merging branches is a fundamental operation that helps integrate changes from different lines of development. There are multiple ways to merge branches, each with its own use case and impact on commit history. In this guide, we'll explore three primary methods:

• Git Merge

• Git Rebase

• Git Cherry-Pick

• Pull Requests (PRs) and Their Merge Strategies

By the end of this article, you'll understand the differences, when to use each, and best practices for managing Git history efficiently.

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1. Git Merge: The Standard Approach

What is Git Merge?

Git Merge is the most common method for integrating changes from one branch into another. It combines two branches and creates a merge commit, preserving the entire commit history.

Before Git Merge

A---B---C (main)
     \  
      D---E (feature-branch)

How to Perform a Git Merge

git checkout main  # Switch to the main branch
git merge feature-branch  # Merge feature-branch into main

This creates a merge commit, keeping track of both histories.

After Git Merge

A---B---C----M (main)
     \      /
      D----E (feature-branch)

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2. Git Rebase: A Cleaner History

What is Git Rebase?

Git Rebase moves or replays commits from one branch onto another, avoiding merge commits and keeping the history linear.

Before Git Rebase

A---B---C (main)
     \  
      D---E (feature-branch)

How to Perform a Git Rebase

git checkout feature-branch  # Switch to the feature branch
git rebase main  # Rebase the feature branch onto main

This reapplies the feature branch commits on top of main, eliminating unnecessary merge commits.

After Git Rebase

A---B---C---D'---E' (feature-branch rebased onto main)

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3. Git Cherry-Pick: Selective Merging

What is Git Cherry-Pick?

Git Cherry-Pick allows you to apply specific commits from one branch to another without merging everything.

Before Git Cherry-Pick

A---B---C (main)
     \  
      D---E (feature-branch)

How to Perform a Git Cherry-Pick

git checkout main  # Switch to the main branch
git cherry-pick <commit-hash>  # Apply a specific commit

After Git Cherry-Pick

A---B---C---E' (main)
     \  
      D---E (feature-branch)

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4. Pull Requests (PRs) and Their Merge Strategies

What is a Pull Request?

A Pull Request (PR) is a GitHub/GitLab feature that enables developers to review and merge changes before integrating them into the main branch.

PR Merge Strategies

Merge Commit (Default PR Merge)

This strategy creates a new merge commit, preserving both branch histories.

Before Merge Commit PR

A---B---C (main)
     \  
      D---E (feature-branch)

After Merge Commit PR

A---B---C----M (main)
     \      /
      D----E (feature-branch)

Squash and Merge

This strategy combines all commits from the feature branch into a single commit before merging.

Before Squash and Merge PR

A---B---C (main)
     \  
      D---E (feature-branch)

After Squash and Merge PR

A---B---C---M (main)

Rebase and Merge

This strategy rebases the feature branch onto the main branch and then merges without a merge commit.

Before Rebase and Merge PR

A---B---C (main)
     \  
      D---E (feature-branch)

After Rebase and Merge PR

A---B---C---D'---E' (main)

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Best Practices for Merging in Git

🚀 Use git merge for stable branches like main and develop
🚀 Use git rebase for personal feature branches before merging
🚀 Use git cherry-pick only when necessary, such as for hotfixes
🚀 Avoid rebasing shared branches to prevent rewriting public history
🚀 Choose the right PR merge strategy based on your team's workflow
🚀 Always resolve merge conflicts carefully and test your code after merging

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Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Git merging strategy depends on your workflow:

• Use git merge for integrating branches while preserving history

• Use git rebase for a cleaner, linear commit history

• Use git cherry-pick for picking specific commits without merging everything

• Use PR merge strategies wisely to maintain a well-structured repository

Mastering these techniques will improve your Git workflow and help you collaborate more efficiently. Happy coding! 🚀