Git Three-Way Merge
Git merge conflicts can be intimidating, but understanding the concept of a three-way merge makes them much easier to handle. Let's break it down in a straightforward way.
When you're merging branches in Git, most of the time Git can automatically figure out how to combine changes. However, when the same part of a file has been modified in different ways on both branches, Git needs your help to decide what to keep.
A three-way merge is Git's way of showing you:
- The common ancestor version (the "base")
- Your version (the current branch)
- Their version (the branch you're trying to merge in)
Having these three versions side by side is incredibly useful because it lets you see:
- What the code looked like before any changes
- What changes you made
- What changes the other developer made
This context makes it much easier to make an informed decision about how to resolve the conflict. You can choose to keep your changes, use their changes, or even create a completely new solution that combines both approaches.
Think of it like comparing different drafts of a document - it's helpful to see the original version and both sets of changes to decide on the final version.
code input Three-Way Merge Editor
