What is Git Clone? - GeeksforGeeks (2024)

Git, a distributed version control system, is widely used for tracking changes in source code during software development. One of the fundamental commands in Git is git clone. This command is important for developers to collaborate on projects by allowing them to create a local copy of a remote repository. In this article, we will explore what git clone is, how it works, and the various options and best practices associated with it.

What is Git Clone?

The git clone command creates a copy of an existing Git repository. This repository can be hosted on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket, or it can reside on a local or remote server. Cloning a repository involves copying all the repository’s data to your local machine, including the entire history and all branches.

Syntax:

git clone <repository-link>

For Example: If you want to clone the Bootstrap repository.

In the above image, It’s a Bootstrap repository and you want to clone it in your local system. For this, you have to use the link to clone this repository on your computer. First, you have to go inside the folder in which you want to clone the repository, for this use the cd command

After that, Clone the repository using git clone <repo-link>

Here the cloning process starts and it is in 14% progress and it continues until 100%.

When the process is complete, the bootstrap repo is added to your local computer inside the Git folder, you can now cd into the bootstrap repo and work accordingly.

If you want to terminate the process then press control C.

Git Clone With Username And Password

When you are cloning the git repository with the help of https URL then you need to use the username and the password as mentioned below.

git clone https://username:password@github.com/username/repository.git

In the place of “Username” and “Password” give your credentials.

In the real time it is not at all reccamonded to use the password and username directly because of securtity concerns instead of that you can use the credential manager or an access token instead of a password.

Git Clone Branch

You can also make a directory for a particular branch by using the git clone command. For this, you need to specify the branch name with the -b command as follows.

Syntax:

git clone -b <Branch name> <Repository URL>

When you do not specify the branch it clones the repo in the main branch.

Purpose: Repo-To-Repo Collaboration Development Copy

Repo-to-repo collaboration development copy is a process of using version control systems which will copy the repository which is avalible in the remote can be copied to the local machine and make the changes and push back to the remote location where other developers can work on it.

To clone the remote repoisitory use the following command.

git clone <remote_repository_url>

Make the changes the as you want and again push it to the remote repository.

Git Clone -Branch

Git clone branch is used to clone the branch which required and presnt in the remote git repository to local machine. Following is the command which is used to clone the repository to the local machine.

git clone --branch <branch_name> <remote_repository_url>

In the above the branch name describes the name of the branch which you to clone and the repository URL will the ssh url of the branch in the remote repository.

Git Clone -Mirror vs. Git Clone -Bare

Git URLs

The code which is stored in the git remote repositories are need to be accesed or to be cloned in to the local repositories for that git URL’s will acts as an git web address.

Types of Git URL’s

1. HTTPS
2. SSH
3. Git Protocol
4. Local File System
5. Relative File System
6. Git Bundle
7. HTTP/HTTPS with Git Smart Protocol

Mostly used are the HTTP’s and SSH URL’s “https://github.com/username/repository.git” https is ude for cloning and pushing the repositories and this is for “git@github.com:username/repository.git” used for the same cloning and pushing repositories.

Cloning a Repository into a Specific Local Folder

Follow the steps mentioned below to clone Repository into a Specific Local Folder.

Step 1: Clone the repository into specific local floder.

git clone <repository_url> <local_folder>

Replace the URL with the URL that that you want tot clone and mentione the name of the floder which you want to copy in the palce of the <local_floder>.

FAQs On Git Clone

1.Is git clone the same as a download?

When you download a repository, it gives you all the source files but it does not contain .git files. When you clone a repository, you get a copy of the entire history.

2. Git Clone With Token

Use the following command to use an access token

git clone https://<username>:<token>@github.com/<username>/<repository>.git

3. Git Clone Branch

By using the following command you can clone the specific required to your local repository.

git clone -b <branch-name> <remote-repository-URL>

-b or — branch tells the branch which we need to clone.

4. Git clone vs Git pull

• Git Clone: Git clone will make an copy of the repository which is already exists in the remote location.
• Git Pull: Git pull is used to fetch the latest changes from the remote repository and merge them into your local repository.