Why is a git 'pull request' not called a 'push request'?

git github pull-request
Alejandro Sanz Díaz picture Alejandro Sanz Díaz · Feb 9, 2014 · Viewed 85.2k times · Source

The terminology used to merge a branch with an official repository is a 'pull request'. This is confusing, as it appears that I am requesting to push my changes to the official repository.

Why is it called a pull request and not a push request?

Answer

Sven picture Sven · Feb 9, 2014

If you have a code change in your repository, and want to move it to a target repository, then:

  • "Push" is you forcing the changes being present in the target repository (git push).
  • "Pull" is the target repository grabbing your changes to be present there (git pull from the other repo).

A "pull request" is you requesting the target repository to please grab your changes.

A "push request" would be the target repository requesting you to push your changes.

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