DevOps
devops
git
collaboration
What is Merge Conflict?
Definition
A merge conflict occurs in Git when two branches modify the same lines of the same file. Git cannot automatically determine which version to keep, so it marks the conflicting sections and requires manual resolution.
Why It Matters
Merge conflicts are inevitable in collaborative development. Understanding how to read conflict markers (<<<<<<<, =======, >>>>>>>), resolve conflicts in editors, and use git mergetool saves significant time. Small, frequent commits reduce conflict severity.