Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in source code during software development. Created by Linus Torvalds in 2005, Git is widely used by developers to manage projects, collaborate on code, and maintain a history of changes. Unlike traditional version control systems that rely on a central repository, Git allows every developer to have a full copy of the project repository, including its entire history. This distributed nature makes Git highly resilient to data loss and allows for offline work, with changes being merged when reconnected to the network.

Git enables developers to create branches, which are independent lines of development, facilitating parallel work on different features or fixes without affecting the main codebase. Once the work is complete, branches can be merged back into the main branch, often using a pull request or merge request process. Git also supports various workflows, including feature branching and GitFlow, making it adaptable to different team structures and project needs. With its robust feature set and wide adoption, Git has become the standard tool for version control in software development, used in combination with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.