Glossary · Source control and deployment
GitHub
A hosted platform for Git repositories, code review, permissions, documentation, automation, releases, and related project operations.
Definition
GitHub stores repositories containing code, files, and revision history. It also provides issues, pull requests, automation through Actions, release records, APIs, access controls, and static publishing through GitHub Pages. Repositories can be public or private depending on the required ownership and disclosure model.
Why it matters
GitHub can provide a portable, reviewable system of record for public-facing website source and documentation without placing secrets in the repository.
Common misunderstanding
Public-facing website content does not require credentials to be stored publicly. Source visibility, deployed visibility, and secret storage are separate decisions.
Related terms
Related system family: Hosting & Release
Sources
- About repositories (opens in a new tab) · GitHub Docs
- Best practices for repositories (opens in a new tab) · GitHub Docs
Last reviewed July 16, 2026