Clone: Downloading a full copy of a remote repository, including its history, to your own computer.

Example

On day one, you run git clone with the repository link to get the project onto your laptop.

Why Clone matters for IT interns

It is usually the first Git command you run on a new project.

Where you will hear it

You will use this term almost daily when working on code with a team, through Git, GitHub, or a similar tool. If someone uses it and you are not sure what they mean in your project, it is completely fine to ask; every team uses terms a little differently.

Related terms

  • .gitignore: A file that tells Git which files or folders not to track, such as build output, local settings or secret…
  • Branch: A separate line of work in a repository, so you can make changes without affecting the main code until they…
  • Commit: A saved snapshot of your changes in Git, with a short message describing what you changed.
  • Feature Branch: A branch created for one specific feature, fix or task.
  • Fork: Your own copy of someone else’s repository on GitHub or a similar service, which you can change without…
  • Git: The tool most software teams use to keep track of every change made to the code.

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Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What is Clone?

Downloading a full copy of a remote repository, including its history, to your own computer.

What is an example of Clone?

On day one, you run git clone with the repository link to get the project onto your laptop.

Why does Clone matter for IT interns?

It is usually the first Git command you run on a new project.

Explore more internship terms

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Dhaivat Ajwaliya

About the author

Dhaivat Ajwaliya

Dhaivat has 16+ years of experience in the IT industry, working on AI and cloud technologies, project delivery, and engineering leadership. He has interviewed and mentored many interns, wrote The Lost Intern, and runs the non-commercial Career Impact Initiative, mentoring students for free.