Technology Fundamentals
Repository
Definition
In version control, a repository is a data structure that stores metadata for a set of files or directory structure. It contains the complete history of all changes ever made to the files.
Why It Matters
The repository is the central "database" of a project under version control. It is the single source of truth that contains all versions of the code and the history of how it has evolved.
Contextual Example
When you start a new project, you initialize a Git repository in the project folder. As you work, you commit your changes to this repository. To collaborate, you can "push" your repository to a remote service like GitHub.
Common Misunderstandings
- In a distributed version control system like Git, you have a local repository on your computer and a remote repository on a server.
- The term is often shortened to "repo".