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Snapshot
One exact saved state of the files — what a commitA commit is a saved snapshot of the project plus a short note about what changed. points at, used often in tipThe tip is the newest saved snapshot on a branch, the one a reviewer can check out. and mergeA merge brings another branch’s snapshots onto the branch you are on, usually after a person agrees. talk.
Why this word exists
Files change every minute. A snapshot freezes one exact state so two people can mean the same files, not whatever is open on my laptop.
Git's commitA commit is a saved snapshot of the project plus a short note about what changed. points at a snapshot. Botski shop talk says tipThe tip is the newest saved snapshot on a branch, the one a reviewer can check out. for the newest snapshot on a branchA branch is a named line of snapshots, so a new idea can grow beside the shared line.. Snapshot is the friendlier word when beginners freeze at SHAA SHA is the long id of one exact snapshot, so two people can prove they have the same files..
Where you will meet it
You will see snapshot next to tipThe tip is the newest saved snapshot on a branch, the one a reviewer can check out., commitA commit is a saved snapshot of the project plus a short note about what changed., and SHAA SHA is the long id of one exact snapshot, so two people can prove they have the same files. in how-to-tip notes and mergeA merge brings another branch’s snapshots onto the branch you are on, usually after a person agrees. talk. Desk never invents a fake snapshot id on these glossary drafts.
Examples
- Three saves on a branchA branch is a named line of snapshots, so a new idea can grow beside the shared line. are three snapshots. The newest one is the tipThe tip is the newest saved snapshot on a branch, the one a reviewer can check out..
- Two folders with the same SHAA SHA is the long id of one exact snapshot, so two people can prove they have the same files. hold the same snapshot, even if the branchA branch is a named line of snapshots, so a new idea can grow beside the shared line. nicknames differ.
- A draftWork saved or opened for review that is not the live tip yet (see also draft vs tip). paragraph that was never committed is not a snapshot yet — it is still cookingWork that is actively being built or waiting in the tip train — not live on the site yet. on one machine.
Fetched 2026-09-23 CT.