Glossary · Source control and deployment
Commit
A recorded repository revision that identifies a specific set of changes and its place in project history.
Definition
A commit captures an intentional group of file changes with an identifier, author record, time, parent history, and message. It allows a team to compare versions, locate when behavior changed, and reproduce the exact source used for a release.
Why it matters
A deployment tied to a commit can be audited and rolled back more reliably than an undocumented file upload.
Common misunderstanding
A commit records source history; it does not automatically publish or deploy the change.
Related terms
Related system family: Hosting & Release
Sources
- About repositories (opens in a new tab) · GitHub Docs
Last reviewed July 16, 2026