90+ Git and GitHub Interview Questions [2025]

Git and GitHub are essential tools for version control and collaborative software development. Their integration with GitOps, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms drives scalable, compliant workflows. This guide provides 91 advanced Git and GitHub interview questions with detailed answers, covering commands, workflows, security, and real-world scenarios. Designed for DevOps engineers, developers, and architects, it equips candidates to excel in technical interviews with practical, scenario-based insights, ensuring alignment with modern development practices.

Git Fundamentals

1. What is the primary function of Git in software development?

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in source code, enabling collaboration among developers. It stores file snapshots with SHA-1 hashes for integrity and supports branching for parallel development. Git’s distributed architecture allows offline work, making it ideal for scalable, collaborative environments like those using GitOps for auditable deployments.

• Distributed System: Each developer has a full repository copy.
• Snapshots: Commits create immutable change records.
• Branching: Facilitates isolated development workflows.

2. Why is Git preferred over other version control systems?

Git’s distributed nature, lightweight branching, and speed make it superior to centralized systems like SVN. It supports complex workflows and integrates seamlessly with platforms like GitHub for collaboration. Its flexibility ensures reliable, auditable deployments in CI/CD and GitOps pipelines, especially in regulated industries like finance or healthcare.

3. When should you initialize a Git repository?

Initialize a Git repository with git init for new projects or when tracking existing codebases, such as applications or IaC configurations. Early initialization ensures version control from the start. Automated initialization in CI/CD pipelines supports consistent setups for scalable, compliant workflows in multi-cloud environments.

4. Where does Git store its metadata?

Git stores metadata in the .git directory within the project folder, containing commit history, branches, and configurations. Remote repositories on GitHub extend this for collaboration. Secure management of the .git directory is critical in GitOps-driven workflows to ensure auditable, compliant storage in cloud-based setups.

5. Who typically manages Git configurations?

Developers configure local settings like user.name, while DevOps engineers or admins manage repository-wide settings, such as hooks or remotes. Automated scripts in GitOps pipelines standardize configurations, ensuring consistency and compliance across teams in regulated industries like telecom.

6. Which command stages changes for a commit?

The git add command stages changes, selecting files or specific changes for the next commit. It’s a foundational step in Git workflows, ensuring only intended changes are committed.

• Granularity: Stage specific files or hunks.
• Automation: Integrates with CI/CD for consistent commits.
• Auditability: Tracks changes for compliance.

7. How does Git ensure data integrity?

Git uses SHA-1 hashes to uniquely identify commits and objects, detecting any alterations to ensure data integrity. This mechanism supports tamper-proof histories, critical for GitOps-driven workflows in regulated environments like finance, where auditability is paramount.

8. What is the purpose of the .gitignore file?

The .gitignore file specifies files or directories to exclude from version control, such as logs or dependencies. It keeps repositories clean and focused. Automated .gitignore templates in CI/CD pipelines ensure consistency across projects, supporting scalable, compliant workflows.

node_modules/
*.log

9. Why is Git effective for collaborative projects?

Git enables collaboration through branching, merging, and pull requests, allowing simultaneous development without conflicts. Its distributed nature supports offline work, syncing later via platforms like GitHub. This makes it ideal for GitOps-driven collaboration, ensuring auditable, scalable workflows in regulated industries.

10. When should you commit changes in Git?

Commit changes after logical units of work, like features or fixes, to maintain a clear history. Small, frequent commits aid collaboration and debugging. In GitOps pipelines, automated commits ensure consistent, compliant updates, reducing errors in dynamic environments like e-commerce.

11. Where do you configure remote repositories?

Configure remotes using git remote add to link local repositories to GitHub. Settings are stored in .git/config. Automated remote setup in CI/CD pipelines ensures seamless integration, supporting scalable, compliant workflows in multi-cloud environments.

git remote add origin https://github.com/user/repo.git

12. Who uses git commit in a team?

Developers use git commit to save staged changes, creating snapshots in the repository. DevOps engineers may automate commits in pipelines. Automated GitOps workflows ensure auditable, compliant changes in regulated industries like healthcare.

13. Which command checks repository status?

The git status command displays modified, staged, or untracked files, helping developers track progress before committing. It’s a critical tool for maintaining workflow clarity.

• Visibility: Shows current repository state.
• Tracking: Identifies uncommitted changes.
• Automation: Supports CI/CD validation.

Branching and Merging

14. What is a Git branch?

A Git branch is a pointer to a commit, enabling isolated development for features or fixes. It supports parallel work without affecting the main branch. Branches are integral to GitHub Flow and GitOps, ensuring scalable, compliant workflows in collaborative projects.

15. Why is branching essential in Git workflows?

Branching isolates changes, preventing conflicts in the main codebase and enabling experimentation. It supports collaborative workflows through code reviews and pull requests. Branching aligns with GitOps, ensuring auditable, scalable development in regulated environments like finance.

16. When should you merge branches?

Merge branches after completing features or fixes, integrating changes into the main branch via git merge. Ensure reviews and tests pass to maintain code quality. Automated merges in GitOps pipelines streamline integration, ensuring compliance in collaborative projects.

17. Where are Git branches stored?

Branches are stored as references in .git/refs/heads, pointing to commits. Remote branches reside on GitHub. Branch management integrates with GitOps, ensuring auditable, scalable workflows in multi-team, regulated environments.

18. Who manages branch permissions on GitHub?

Repository admins or DevOps engineers manage branch permissions, setting protection rules for reviews or checks. Automated GitOps and RBAC enforce permissions, ensuring compliance in regulated industries like telecom.

19. Which command resolves merge conflicts?

Resolve conflicts by editing conflicting files, choosing changes, and marking them resolved with git add, followed by git commit. GitHub’s conflict resolution tools and continuous governance streamline this, ensuring compliance in collaborative workflows.

git add resolved_file
git commit

20. How does git rebase differ from git merge?

git rebase applies commits onto another branch, creating a linear history, while git merge preserves history with a merge commit. Rebase is used for cleaner histories in local branches, while merge suits shared branches in collaborative workflows.

• Rebase: Linear, cleaner history.
• Merge: Preserves branch history.
• Use Case: Rebase for local, merge for collaboration.

21. What is the purpose of git cherry-pick?

git cherry-pick applies specific commits to another branch, useful for selective changes without merging entire branches. It supports precise updates in GitOps pipelines, ensuring compliance in regulated environments like healthcare.

git cherry-pick 

22. Why avoid rebasing public branches?

Rebasing public branches rewrites history, causing conflicts for collaborators who pulled the branch. This disrupts teamwork and auditability, especially in regulated industries where GitOps enforces merge strategies to maintain compliance and collaboration.

23. When should you use git tag?

Use git tag to mark commits as releases or milestones, providing stable reference points. Annotated tags include metadata for traceability, integrating with CI/CD pipelines to ensure auditable releases in regulated environments.

24. Where do you see branching in workflows?

Branching is used for feature development, bug fixes, or experiments, isolating changes from the main branch. It integrates with GitHub Flow and GitOps, ensuring scalable, compliant development in multi-team, cloud-based projects.

25. Who decides branching strategies?

DevOps engineers and team leads decide branching strategies, like GitHub Flow or Git Flow, based on project needs. Automated GitOps pipelines enforce these strategies, ensuring consistency and compliance in regulated industries like telecom.

26. Which branching strategy suits continuous deployment?

GitHub Flow, with a single main branch and feature branches, supports continuous deployment for rapid, automated releases. It integrates with GitOps and CI/CD, ensuring scalable, compliant deployments in dynamic environments like e-commerce.

• Simplicity: Single main branch.
• Automation: CI/CD integration.
• Speed: Rapid releases.

GitHub Features

27. What is the role of GitHub Issues?

GitHub Issues tracks bugs, tasks, or enhancements, linking them to commits or pull requests for traceability. It supports project boards for organization. Issues integrate with GitOps tools, streamlining task management in compliant, collaborative workflows.

28. Why use GitHub pull requests?

Pull requests propose changes, enabling code reviews and discussions before merging. They ensure quality through peer feedback and automated checks, integrating with RBAC and GitOps to maintain high-quality, compliant code in regulated industries like finance.

29. When should you fork a GitHub repository?

Fork a repository to create a personal copy for contributions or experimentation without affecting the original. Forking supports collaborative, auditable contributions in regulated environments, such as open-source projects or internal development in finance.

30. Where do you configure GitHub settings?

Configure settings in the repository’s “Settings” tab, managing branches, permissions, webhooks, and Actions. Automated GitOps scripts standardize settings, ensuring compliance and scalability in multi-team workflows.

31. Who performs GitHub code reviews?

Developers or team leads review pull requests, ensuring quality and standards adherence. Admins enforce review policies. Automated tools like CodeQL in GitOps pipelines streamline reviews, ensuring compliance in regulated industries.

32. Which GitHub feature automates CI/CD?

GitHub Actions automates CI/CD workflows, defined in YAML files, for building, testing, and deploying code. Actions align with GitOps, supporting scalable, compliant automation in multi-cloud environments like AWS or Azure.

name: CI
on: [push]
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - run: npm test

33. How does GitHub Flow enhance collaboration?

GitHub Flow uses a single main branch with feature branches, streamlining collaboration through pull requests and automated testing. It ensures rapid, compliant deployments in GitOps-driven workflows, particularly in regulated environments.

• Simplicity: Minimal branch structure.
• Reviews: Pull requests ensure quality.
• Automation: Actions streamline deployment.

34. What is the purpose of GitHub Projects?

GitHub Projects organizes tasks using boards, tracking issues and PRs to visualize workflows. It enhances team coordination and integrates with GitOps, ensuring auditable, compliant task management in regulated industries like telecom.

35. Why use GitHub’s code owners feature?

Code owners assign reviewers for specific files, ensuring expertise and accountability in PRs. This streamlines reviews and enforces quality, aligning with GitOps for compliance in regulated environments like finance.

# CODEOWNERS
/docs/ @doc-team

36. When should you protect branches in GitHub?

Protect branches like main to enforce reviews, status checks, or signed commits, ensuring quality and security. Protected branches align with GitOps, enforcing compliance in regulated industries.

37. Where do you implement GitHub webhooks?

Implement webhooks in the “Settings” tab under “Webhooks,” triggering external services like CI/CD pipelines on repository events. Webhooks integrate with AI-driven workflows, ensuring event-driven, compliant automation.

38. Who manages GitHub Actions workflows?

DevOps engineers configure Actions workflows, defining automation logic, while admins enforce security policies. GitOps automates workflow management, ensuring compliance and consistency in regulated industries like telecom.

Git Commands and Operations

39. What is the purpose of git clone?

git clone creates a local copy of a remote repository, including history and branches, enabling local development. It’s a foundational command for starting work on a project.

• Full Copy: Includes all branches and history.
• Automation: Integrates with CI/CD for setup.
• Collaboration: Enables local-to-remote syncing.

40. Why use git stash?

git stash saves uncommitted changes temporarily, allowing branch switching without committing incomplete work. It’s ideal for multitasking or addressing urgent fixes. Automated stash management in CI/CD pipelines ensures smooth context switching in dynamic environments.

41. When should you use git fetch?

Use git fetch to retrieve remote changes without merging, allowing review before integration. It’s safer than git pull for shared branches, supporting controlled updates in GitOps pipelines for regulated industries.

42. Where do you see git push in workflows?

git push uploads local commits to a remote repository, sharing changes with the team. It’s used after commits to update branches. In GitOps, it triggers CI/CD pipelines for automated, compliant deployments.

43. Who executes git reset?

Developers execute git reset to undo commits or changes, adjusting repository state for corrections. Automated scripts in GitOps pipelines use reset for rollbacks, ensuring compliance in regulated environments like healthcare.

44. Which command reverts a commit?

git revert creates a new commit undoing a specified commit’s changes, preserving history. It’s safer for public branches than git reset. In GitOps, revert ensures auditable rollbacks in regulated industries.

45. How does git log assist debugging?

git log displays commit history, including authors and messages, helping identify when issues were introduced. Options like --grep filter logs. Log analysis integrates with observability tools in GitOps pipelines, enhancing debugging in regulated environments.

git log --oneline

46. What is the role of git diff?

git diff shows changes between commits, branches, or the working directory, aiding code review and debugging. It integrates with CI/CD tools, ensuring thorough reviews in automated, compliant workflows.

47. Why use git squash?

Squashing combines multiple commits into one, creating a cleaner history for better readability and review. It’s ideal for feature branches before merging. In GitOps pipelines, squashing ensures streamlined, compliant histories in collaborative projects.

48. When should you use git reflog?

Use git reflog to recover lost commits or branches after resets, viewing reference updates. It’s critical for debugging and recovery. In GitOps workflows, reflog aids traceability in regulated environments like healthcare.

49. Where do you find Git logs?

Find logs using git log, with options like --graph for visualizing history. Logs integrate with observability tools in GitOps pipelines, enhancing debugging in complex, regulated environments like finance.

50. Who resolves merge conflicts?

Developers, typically the branch owner, resolve conflicts with input from collaborators during PR reviews. GitOps tools automate conflict detection, streamlining resolution in regulated industries like healthcare.

51. Which command removes untracked files?

git clean -fd removes untracked files and directories, cleaning the working directory. It integrates with CI/CD scripts, ensuring tidy repositories in automated, compliant workflows.

• Cleanup: Removes untracked files.
• Automation: Supports CI/CD scripts.
• Use Case: Prepares clean states.

GitHub Actions and Automation

52. What is GitHub Actions?

GitHub Actions automates workflows like building, testing, and deploying, defined in YAML files triggered by events (e.g., pushes). It integrates with CI/CD pipelines, enhancing GitOps for scalable, compliant automation in multi-cloud environments.

53. Why use GitHub Actions for CI/CD?

GitHub Actions integrates natively with repositories, simplifying automation with reusable actions from the Marketplace. It supports complex workflows and cloud integrations, aligning with GitOps for auditable, compliant deployments in regulated industries like finance.

54. When should you trigger GitHub Actions?

Trigger Actions on pushes, pull requests, or schedules to automate testing, building, or deploying. Event-driven triggers in GitOps pipelines ensure rapid, compliant updates in dynamic environments like e-commerce.

55. Where do you store GitHub Actions workflows?

Store workflows in .github/workflows as YAML files, defining jobs and steps. Workflows integrate with GitOps tools like ArgoCD, ensuring scalable, auditable automation in multi-cloud setups.

name: Deploy
on: [push]
jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - run: ./deploy.sh

56. Who configures GitHub Actions?

DevOps engineers configure Actions, defining workflows and integrating tools, while admins enforce security policies. GitOps automates configuration, ensuring compliance and consistency in regulated industries like telecom.

57. Which runners are available in GitHub Actions?

GitHub offers hosted runners (Ubuntu, Windows, macOS) and self-hosted runners for custom environments. Self-hosted runners align with GitOps, ensuring secure, compliant automation in regulated environments like healthcare.

58. How do you secure GitHub Actions workflows?

Secure workflows with GitHub Secrets, restricted runner permissions, and OIDC authentication. Monitor logs for anomalies. Integration with policy-as-code tools like OPA ensures compliant automation in regulated industries.

59. What is the role of matrix builds?

Matrix builds test across multiple environments (e.g., OS, versions) simultaneously, ensuring compatibility. They enhance GitOps pipelines, supporting comprehensive testing in regulated environments like telecom.

strategy:
  matrix:
    os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest]

60. Why use reusable workflows in Actions?

Reusable workflows reduce duplication, ensuring consistency across repositories. They simplify maintenance and enforce standards, aligning with GitOps for scalable, compliant automation in multi-team projects.

61. When should you use self-hosted runners?

Use self-hosted runners for custom hardware, compliance, or sensitive workloads. They integrate with GitOps, ensuring secure, scalable automation in regulated environments like healthcare.

62. Where do you monitor Actions execution?

Monitor execution in the “Actions” tab, viewing logs and statuses. Integration with observability tools like Prometheus enhances monitoring, ensuring real-time insights in GitOps-driven workflows.

63. Who debugs Actions failures?

DevOps engineers debug failures, analyzing logs and adjusting workflows. Automated monitoring in GitOps pipelines with tools like Grafana speeds up debugging, ensuring reliability in regulated environments.

Security and Compliance

64. What are GitHub’s security features?

GitHub provides Dependabot, CodeQL, secret scanning, and branch protection to secure repositories. These detect vulnerabilities and enforce reviews, integrating with policy-as-code for GDPR and SOC 2 compliance in regulated industries like finance.

• Dependabot: Updates dependencies.
• CodeQL: Scans for vulnerabilities.
• Secret Scanning: Detects credentials.

65. Why is secret scanning critical?

Secret scanning detects exposed credentials in commits, preventing breaches. It alerts admins and blocks pushes, integrating with GitOps to ensure compliance with standards like HIPAA in industries like healthcare.

66. When should you enable 2FA in GitHub?

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts, especially admins, to secure access. It’s critical for compliance in regulated environments, aligning with GitOps and RBAC to ensure secure workflows in industries like finance.

67. Where do you configure GitHub Secrets?

Configure Secrets in the “Settings” tab under “Secrets and variables” for secure storage of sensitive data. Secrets integrate with GitOps, ensuring secure automation in regulated workflows.

68. Who enforces GitHub security policies?

Security teams and admins enforce policies, configuring Dependabot, CodeQL, and RBAC. Automated policy-as-code tools like OPA in GitOps pipelines ensure continuous compliance in regulated industries.

69. Which tools detect vulnerabilities in GitHub?

Dependabot, CodeQL, and secret scanning detect vulnerabilities, with third-party tools like Snyk for deeper analysis. These integrate with GitOps, ensuring secure, compliant codebases in regulated environments.

70. How do you secure GitHub Actions runners?

Secure runners with ephemeral hosted runners, restricted permissions, and OIDC authentication. Monitoring logs for anomalies ensures security. In GitOps, secure runners support compliant automation in regulated industries.

71. What is the role of signed commits?

Signed commits verify author identity using GPG or SSH, ensuring traceability and preventing unauthorized changes. They align with GitOps, supporting auditable workflows in regulated industries like finance.

git commit -S -m "Signed commit"

72. Why enforce branch protection rules?

Branch protection rules enforce reviews, checks, and signed commits, ensuring quality and security. They align with GitOps practices, ensuring compliance in regulated industries like healthcare.

73. When should you use security advisories?

Use security advisories to privately report vulnerabilities, collaborating with maintainers before disclosure. Advisories integrate with GitOps, ensuring discreet, compliant handling in regulated environments.

74. Where do you monitor security alerts?

Monitor alerts in the “Security” tab, viewing Dependabot and CodeQL notifications. Integration with observability tools enhances monitoring, ensuring real-time security in GitOps workflows.

GitOps and Integrations

75. What is GitOps, and how does GitHub support it?

GitOps uses Git as the source of truth for declarative infrastructure and application management. GitHub supports it with repositories, Actions, and webhooks, ensuring auditable, scalable deployments in regulated industries like finance.

76. Why integrate Git with GitOps?

Git’s version control enables declarative, auditable configurations for GitOps, reducing errors and ensuring compliance. Integration with GitHub Actions and tools like ArgoCD streamlines automation in regulated environments.

77. When should you use GitHub for IaC?

Use GitHub for IaC with tools like Terraform, storing configurations and automating with Actions. GitOps ensures compliant IaC deployments in multi-cloud environments like AWS or Azure.

78. Where do you implement GitOps in GitHub?

Implement GitOps using repositories for configurations, Actions for automation, and webhooks for triggers. Tools like Flux ensure scalable, compliant deployments in regulated industries.

79. Who manages GitOps workflows?

DevOps engineers and platform teams manage GitOps workflows, defining configurations and automating deployments. Automated GitOps ensures compliant workflows in regulated industries like healthcare.

80. Which GitHub features enhance GitOps?

Repositories, Actions, webhooks, and protected branches enable declarative management and automation. Integration with ArgoCD enhances GitOps, ensuring compliant deployments in multi-cloud environments.

• Repositories: Store configurations.
• Actions: Automate deployments.
• Webhooks: Trigger tools.

81. How do you use GitHub for multi-cloud deployments?

Store IaC configurations in GitHub and use Actions to deploy across AWS, Azure, or GCP. GitOps ensures consistent, compliant multi-cloud deployments in dynamic environments.

82. What is the role of Git in microservices?

Git manages microservices code in separate repositories, enabling independent versioning and deployment. Integration with GitOps and Kubernetes ensures scalable, compliant microservices workflows.

83. Why use GitHub for disaster recovery?

GitHub stores versioned code and configurations, enabling rapid recovery via commits. Actions automate recovery pipelines, aligning with GitOps to ensure auditable, compliant recovery in regulated industries.

84. When should you use GitHub’s Codespaces?

Use Codespaces for cloud-based development, enabling rapid onboarding and consistent setups. Codespaces integrate with GitOps, ensuring compliant development in regulated environments.

Troubleshooting and Optimization

85. What steps troubleshoot Git push failures?

Check git status, resolve conflicts, verify permissions, and ensure network connectivity. Automated checks in GitOps pipelines detect issues, ensuring reliable deployments in regulated environments.

• Conflicts: Resolve merge issues.
• Permissions: Verify access rights.
• Network: Check connectivity.

86. Why optimize Git repository performance?

Optimizing reduces clone times and improves efficiency, using Git LFS and history limits. GitOps pipelines streamline performance, ensuring scalable, compliant repositories in multi-team environments.

87. When should you clean untracked files?

Clean untracked files with git clean before switching branches to maintain a tidy repository. Automated cleanup in CI/CD ensures consistent, compliant workflows.

88. Where do you find GitHub Actions logs?

Find logs in the “Actions” tab, detailing job execution. Integration with observability tools enhances log analysis, ensuring reliability in GitOps workflows.

89. Who debugs Git repository issues?

Developers debug issues using logs and git status, while DevOps engineers handle pipeline failures. Automated debugging in GitOps pipelines ensures rapid resolution in regulated environments.

90. Which techniques optimize GitHub Actions?

Use caching, parallel jobs, and efficient runners to optimize Actions. GitOps pipelines automate optimization, ensuring efficient, compliant automation in multi-cloud setups.

• Caching: Speeds up builds.
• Parallel Jobs: Reduces execution time.
• Runners: Optimizes resource usage.

91. How do you recover a lost commit?

Use git reflog to find the commit’s SHA-1, then restore with git checkout or git reset. Automated recovery in GitOps pipelines ensures traceability in regulated environments.

git reflog
git checkout