Understand how merging preserves branch history and rebasing replays commits onto a new base.
The core idea
A merge combines histories and can create a merge commit. A rebase rewrites the commits in one branch so they appear on top of another base. Both can be useful; team conventions and the state of shared history matter.
A practical way to approach it
Use merge when preserving the exact branch relationship is important. Rebase a private feature branch to update it before review if that matches your team’s workflow. Resolve conflicts carefully and run tests after either operation.
Try it in a small project
Create two branches that change different lines, then merge them. Repeat with a rebase and inspect the log to compare the resulting histories.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not rebase commits that teammates are already building on unless everyone agrees. Rewriting shared history can create confusing duplicate commits.
Key takeaway
Keep the first version small, make your assumptions explicit, and verify the result with a repeatable test. For production use, check the current official documentation for the tools and versions you choose.