If you've ever worked with a development team and felt confused when they started talking about "pull requests," "merging branches," or "rebasing commits," you're not alone. The world of version control can seem intimidating at first, but once you understand the basics, you'll wonder how teams ever collaborated on code without these tools.
Whether you're a product manager reviewing feature requirements, a designer checking how your mockups were implemented, or someone new to development, this guide will help you navigate the pull request process with confidence.
Why Pull Requests Matter (And Why You Should Care)
Think of software development like writing a book with multiple authors. Without some system to manage changes, you'd have chaos—people overwriting each other's work, losing important edits, or accidentally deleting entire chapters. Pull requests are like having a smart editor who helps coordinate all these changes safely.
In modern software development, pull requests aren't just for developers. They're where:
- Product managers verify that features match requirements
- Designers check that implementations match their vision
- QA teams understand what needs testing
- Everyone collaborates to ship better software
By the end of this guide, you'll understand the lingo, know what questions to ask, and maybe even create your first pull request for updating documentation or content.
Essential Vocabulary: Your Git & GitHub Cheat Sheet
Before we dive into pull requests, let's get familiar with the key terms you'll hear in every development conversation. Don't worry—we'll use plenty of real-world analogies to make these concepts stick.
Repository (Repo)
A repository is like a project folder that remembers everything that ever happened to it. It's not just the current files—it's the entire history of every change, who made it, and when. Think of it as a project folder with perfect memory.
Example: The Pull Panda repository contains all our code, documentation, and the complete history of how the project evolved from day one.
Commit
A commit is like taking a snapshot of your work at a specific moment. It's similar to hitting "Save" on a document, but more powerful—it captures exactly what changed and includes a message explaining why.
Example: "Add dark mode toggle to settings page" is a commit that captures the specific changes needed for that feature.
Branch
A branch is like creating a parallel timeline where you can work on changes without affecting the main project. Imagine photocopying a recipe so you can experiment with modifications without messing up the original.
Example: You might create a "redesign-homepage" branch to work on layout changes while other team members continue working on the main version.
Fork
A fork is your personal copy of someone else's entire project. It's like checking out a book from the library, making your own photocopy, and then being able to write all over it without affecting the original.
Example: If you want to contribute to an open-source project, you'd fork their repository to get your own copy to work with.
Push
Push means uploading your local changes to the shared repository in the cloud. It's like submitting your work to the team's shared folder so everyone can see it.
Example: After working on your laptop all morning, you push your commits so your teammates can see your progress.
Pull
Pull means downloading the latest changes from the shared repository to your local computer. It's like syncing your files to make sure you have everyone else's latest work.
Example: Starting your day by pulling the latest changes ensures you're working with the most current version of the project.
Merge
Merging combines changes from different branches into one. It's like taking edits from multiple authors and carefully combining them into a single, coherent document.
Example: After your "redesign-homepage" branch is approved, it gets merged into the main branch so everyone gets the new design.
Rebase
Rebasing is like reorganizing your changes to make them appear as if they were built on top of the most recent work. Imagine reordering layers in a design so they make more logical sense.
Example: If the main branch moved forward while you were working, rebasing puts your changes "on top" of the latest version for a cleaner history.
The Complete Pull Request Journey
Now that we've covered the vocabulary, let's walk through the entire pull request process step by step. This is the workflow most development teams use daily.
Step 1: Planning (What Needs to Change?)
Every pull request starts with identifying a specific goal. This might be:
- Fixing a bug reported by users
- Adding a new feature from the product roadmap
- Updating documentation
- Improving code performance
Best Practice: Good pull requests focus on one clear objective. If you find yourself saying "and also..." when describing the change, it might be better as separate pull requests.
Step 2: Branching (Creating a Safe Space)
Before making any changes, developers create a new branch. This is like setting up a separate workspace where they can experiment without breaking anything that's already working.
Branch Naming: Teams often use descriptive names like:
feature/user-authenticationbugfix/login-error-handlingdocs/update-installation-guide
Step 3: Development (Making and Recording Changes)
This is where the actual work happens. Developers write code, update files, and test their changes. As they work, they create commits to save their progress and document what they're doing.
Good Commit Messages: Instead of "fixed stuff," developers write descriptive messages like "Fix password reset email not sending when user has special characters in their name."
Step 4: Publishing (Sharing the Work)
Once the changes are ready, developers push their branch to the shared repository. This makes their work visible to the rest of the team, but it doesn't change the main project yet.
Step 5: Creating the Pull Request
Here's where the magic happens. A pull request is essentially saying: "Hey team, I've got some changes ready. Can you review them and, if they look good, merge them into the main project?"
A good pull request includes:
- A clear title explaining what changed
- A description of why the change was needed
- Steps for reviewers to test the changes
- Screenshots or recordings for visual changes
- Links to related issues or requirements
Step 6: Review Process (Team Collaboration)
This is where non-developers often play a crucial role. Reviewers might be:
- Developers checking for bugs and code quality
- Product managers verifying feature requirements
- Designers confirming visual implementation
- QA engineers planning testing strategies
Review Types:
- Approve: "This looks great, ready to ship!"
- Request changes: "Good work, but we need to fix X before merging"
- Comment: "Just leaving some suggestions, no blocking issues"
Step 7: Approval & Merge (Making It Official)
Once reviewers are happy with the changes, someone with merge permissions (usually a senior developer or team lead) combines the new work into the main project.
Step 8: Cleanup (Keeping Things Tidy)
After merging, the feature branch gets deleted since its changes are now part of the main project. This keeps the repository organized and prevents confusion.
Your Pull Request FAQ: 12 Common Questions Answered
Let's address the most common questions people have about pull requests. Whether you're trying to understand the process or communicate better with your development team, these answers will help.
Understanding Pull Requests
What are pull requests in GitHub? A pull request (PR) is a formal way to propose changes to a codebase. It's like submitting a draft article to an editor—you're asking the team to review your work and, if approved, publish it to the main project. Pull requests include the proposed changes, a description of what they do, and a space for team discussion.
How does a pull request work in GitHub? GitHub's pull request system provides a centralized place for code review. When you create a PR, GitHub shows exactly what changed, allows teammates to leave comments on specific lines, runs automated tests, and provides tools for approving or requesting changes. It's essentially a structured conversation about proposed code changes.
What is a pull request workflow? A pull request workflow is the process teams follow from creating a PR to merging it. Typically: create branch → make changes → push to GitHub → open pull request → team reviews → address feedback → get approval → merge to main branch. Many teams customize this with additional steps like automated testing or deployment previews.
When should I use a pull request? Use pull requests for any change you want others to review before it goes live. This includes new features, bug fixes, documentation updates, configuration changes, and even content updates. If the change affects other people or could break something, it should probably go through a pull request.
Technical Operations
Can a pull request be deleted? Yes, but the approach depends on the situation. You can close a pull request if you don't want to proceed with the changes—this keeps the discussion history but stops the PR process. If you want to completely remove a merged PR's changes, you'd need to create a new pull request that reverts those changes. GitHub keeps the history for transparency and accountability.
Can a pull request be reverted? Absolutely! GitHub makes this easy with a "Revert" button on merged pull requests. This creates a new pull request that undoes all the changes from the original PR. It's like an "undo" button for releases—super useful when you discover a critical issue after deployment.
Can a pull request have multiple commits? Yes, and this is actually very common! A pull request can contain anywhere from one to hundreds of commits. For example, a feature PR might have commits like "Add user model," "Create login form," "Add password validation," and "Update tests." Each commit represents a logical step in implementing the feature.
Terminology Confusion
Why is it called a pull request when you push? This confuses everyone at first! The name comes from the perspective of the main repository. You "push" your changes to your branch, but then you're asking the main repository to "pull" those changes in. Think of it like pushing a document to a shared folder, then asking the editor to pull it into the main publication. GitLab uses the term "merge request" which some people find clearer.
What's the difference between a push and a merge request? "Push" is uploading your local changes to a remote repository. "Merge request" (GitLab's term) or "pull request" (GitHub's term) is proposing that those pushed changes be merged into the main branch. So you push first, then create a merge/pull request. They're different steps in the same workflow.
What does pull mean in GitHub? In GitHub, "pull" has two meanings. As a standalone action, it means downloading the latest changes from a repository to your local machine. As part of "pull request," it refers to asking the main repository to pull in your proposed changes. Context usually makes it clear which meaning applies.
What is forking in GitHub? Forking creates your personal copy of someone else's entire repository. It's commonly used for open-source contributions—you fork the project, make your changes in your copy, then create a pull request asking the original project to adopt your changes. It's like creating your own branch of someone else's project that you fully control.
What is a pull request vs a push? A push is a one-way action: uploading changes from your computer to GitHub. A pull request is a collaborative process: proposing changes, getting feedback, having discussions, and eventually merging approved changes. You typically push first, then create a pull request to propose merging those pushed changes.
Real-World Examples: Pull Requests in Action
Let's look at some common scenarios to see how pull requests work in practice:
Scenario 1: Quick Bug Fix
The Situation: Users report that the login button doesn't work on mobile devices.
The Pull Request:
- Branch name:
bugfix/mobile-login-button - Commits: One commit with the CSS fix
- Review process: Developer reviews the code, designer confirms it looks good on mobile
- Result: Quick merge, usually same day
Why this works: Small, focused changes are easy to review and low-risk to merge.
Scenario 2: New Feature Development
The Situation: Product team wants to add a dark mode toggle to user settings.
The Pull Request:
- Branch name:
feature/dark-mode-toggle - Commits: Multiple commits for different parts (UI component, theme logic, settings persistence, tests)
- Review process: Product manager verifies requirements, designer checks visual implementation, developers review code quality
- Result: Thorough review over several days with feedback iterations
Why this works: Larger features need more coordination and testing to ensure they work well.
Scenario 3: Documentation Update
The Situation: User support team notices the installation guide is outdated.
The Pull Request:
- Branch name:
docs/update-installation-guide - Commits: Updates to README and setup documentation
- Review process: Technical writer and support team lead review for accuracy
- Result: Non-developers can create and review these PRs
Why this works: Pull requests aren't just for code—they're perfect for collaborative content editing.
Scenario 4: Emergency Hotfix
The Situation: Critical security vulnerability discovered in production.
The Pull Request:
- Branch name:
hotfix/security-patch-CVE-2024-xxx - Commits: Minimal changes to fix the specific vulnerability
- Review process: Fast-tracked review by security team and senior developers
- Result: Expedited merge and immediate deployment
Why this works: Even urgent fixes benefit from quick review to prevent introducing new problems.
Best Practices for Non-Technical Team Members
You don't need to understand code to contribute meaningfully to pull request reviews. Here's how to make the most of your perspective:
Effective Review Strategies
Focus on your expertise: If you're a product manager, verify the feature matches requirements. If you're a designer, check that the implementation matches your designs. If you're from support, think about how users will interact with the change.
Ask questions: "How does this handle the edge case where a user has no profile picture?" or "What happens if someone tries to submit this form twice quickly?" Your questions often catch scenarios developers missed.
Test the experience: Many pull requests include preview links or instructions for testing. Click through the user flows and see if anything feels weird or broken.
Communication Etiquette
Be specific in feedback: Instead of "this doesn't feel right," try "when I click this button on mobile, it feels too small to tap accurately."
Distinguish between preferences and problems: "I personally prefer the old color" is different from "this color doesn't meet our accessibility standards."
Ask for clarification when lost: If a technical discussion goes over your head, it's totally fine to ask "can someone explain what this means for our users?"
When to Approve vs. Request Changes
Approve when: The change meets requirements, functions as expected, and any concerns are minor preferences that don't need to block shipping.
Request changes when: You find bugs, missing requirements, user experience issues, or anything that would cause problems for users or the business.
Just comment when: You have suggestions, questions, or observations that don't necessarily need to be addressed before merging.
Wrapping Up: You're Ready for Pull Request Success
Congratulations! You now have the knowledge to participate confidently in your team's development workflow. You understand the terminology, know how pull requests work, and have strategies for contributing meaningful reviews.
Quick Reference Checklist
When you encounter a pull request, you can now:
- ✅ Understand what the developer is trying to accomplish
- ✅ Ask informed questions about edge cases and user experience
- ✅ Provide feedback focused on your area of expertise
- ✅ Know when to approve, request changes, or just comment
- ✅ Communicate effectively with developers using the right terminology
Your Next Steps
- Start small: Look for documentation or content pull requests where you can practice reviewing
- Ask your team: Find out about any specific pull request conventions your team uses
- Create your first PR: Try updating documentation or making a small content change
- Stay curious: The more you engage with pull requests, the more you'll learn about how your product is built
Remember, good software is built by teams with diverse perspectives. Your non-technical viewpoint often catches issues that developers miss because they're focused on the technical implementation. Don't hesitate to speak up—your input makes the product better for everyone.
The development world might seem complex at first, but pull requests are fundamentally about collaboration, communication, and building better software together. You've got this!
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