What is the difference between 'git fetch' and 'git pull'?

git fetch and git pull are commands for updating a local repository from a remote one, but they work differently:

• git fetch downloads new commits and updates references to remote branches (e.g., origin/main), but does not change the current local branch. This allows you to review changes before integrating them.

• git pull is a combination of git fetch + git merge (or git rebase), meaning it downloads changes and immediately tries to merge them with the current branch.

Using git fetch provides more control: you can first review changes, decide how to integrate them, while git pull is convenient for quick updates but may lead to conflicts or unwanted merges without prior analysis.