How to Check and Resolve Conflicts in Git?

Git is an essential version control system used by developers worldwide to manage code, collaborate on projects, and track changes. One of the most powerful features of Git is its ability to handle multiple branches, but this can sometimes lead to conflicts—especially when two or more branches modify the same lines of code.

Understanding how to check and resolve conflicts is a critical skill for every developer working with Git.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the process of checking for conflicts in Git, their causes, and how to handle them efficiently.

What Are Git Conflicts?

A Git conflict occurs when two branches that you are trying to merge have changes in the same part of the same file, and Git is unable to automatically determine which version should be kept. This happens when:

• Two developers make different changes to the same line of code.
• One developer deletes a file that another developer modifies.
• There are changes to the file structure that Git cannot automatically merge.

When a conflict occurs, Git will mark the affected files, allowing you to manually resolve the discrepancies.

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Step-by-Step Guide: How to Check for Conflicts in Git

1. Check the Status of Your Repository

Before merging branches or pulling updates, always check the status of your repository to see if there are any pending changes or conflicts.

1. Open a terminal or Git Bash and navigate to your repository.
2. Run the following command to check the status:

   git status

3. If there are conflicts, Git will show a message like:

   You have unmerged paths.
   (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage)
   (use "git add <file>..." to mark resolution)

This indicates that there are merge conflicts that need to be resolved.

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2. Perform a Merge or Pull Request

Conflicts usually arise when you attempt to merge branches or pull changes from a remote repository. Let’s explore two common scenarios:

A. Merging Branches Locally

1. Switch to the branch you want to merge into (usually the main or master branch):

   git checkout main

2. Try to merge the other branch into the current one:

   git merge <branch_name>

3. If there are conflicts, Git will stop the merge process and show you which files are in conflict.

B. Pulling Changes from a Remote Repository

1. If you have pending changes in your local repository, run:

   git pull origin <branch_name>

2. If conflicts occur, Git will alert you about the files that are conflicted and mark them for manual resolution.

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3. Identifying the Conflicted Files

Once conflicts occur, Git marks the affected files. These files will contain conflict markers that look like this:

<<<<<<< HEAD
Changes from your branch
=======
Changes from the branch you're merging
>>>>>>> branch_name

• <<<<<<< HEAD marks the start of your changes.
• ======= separates the conflicting changes.
• >>>>>>> branch_name marks the end of the incoming changes.

You will need to manually edit these files, choosing whether to keep your changes, the incoming changes, or a combination of both.

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4. Checking Conflict Markers in Files

Git doesn’t automatically resolve the conflict, but it helps you by marking the conflict areas in the code. To resolve conflicts:

1. Open the conflicted files in your code editor.
2. Look for conflict markers like <<<<<<<, =======, and >>>>>>>.
3. Edit the file to select the appropriate code that you want to keep.

• You can either keep your changes, the changes from the other branch, or merge both.

1. After resolving the conflicts, remove the conflict markers.

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5. Mark Files as Resolved

Once you’ve resolved all the conflicts, you need to mark the files as resolved.

1. Add the resolved files to the staging area using:

   git add <file_name>

2. After all conflicts are resolved and added to staging, complete the merge by committing the changes:

   git commit

Git will automatically generate a merge commit message, but you can edit it if necessary.

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6. Verify the Resolution

After resolving the conflicts, you can verify the status of your repository:

1. Run git status to ensure that there are no remaining conflicts.
2. If everything is resolved, push the changes to the remote repository (if needed):

   git push origin <branch_name>

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Best Practices for Handling Git Conflicts

1. Keep Your Branches Up-to-Date

Regularly pull the latest changes from the main branch into your feature branches to minimize the risk of conflicts. This way, you can resolve conflicts incrementally and prevent a large number of them from piling up.

2. Communicate with Your Team

Conflicts often arise when multiple developers are working on the same files or features. Ensure good communication within the team to avoid working on the same code simultaneously.

3. Break Down Large Changes

Large changes are more likely to result in conflicts. Try to break down your changes into smaller, more manageable commits that are easier to merge with others.

4. Use Git GUI Tools

If you find resolving conflicts in the terminal challenging, consider using Git GUI tools like SourceTree, GitKraken, or Visual Studio Code‘s built-in Git features. These tools offer a visual representation of conflicts, making it easier to resolve them.

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Conclusion

Git conflicts are an inevitable part of version control, but with the right tools and practices, you can handle them effectively. By regularly checking the status of your repository, carefully examining conflicted files, and communicating with your team, you can minimize the impact of conflicts and keep your development workflow running smoothly.

Next time a conflict arises, stay calm, follow the steps outlined above, and you’ll be back on track in no time.