A GitHub pull request (PR) is a proposal to merge code changes into a project. It gives contributors and reviewers a shared place to discuss the change, inspect its commits and file differences, and check automated validations before anyone merges it into the target branch.
What does “PR” mean in GitHub?
PR means “pull request.” The name describes a request for a project’s changes to be brought into another branch: the author proposes the change, and the project’s collaborators review it before deciding whether to merge it. Opening a pull request does not itself change the target branch. GitHub describes pull requests as a collaboration feature for discussing and reviewing changes before merging them. GitHub Docs: About pull requests
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What happens when you open a pull request?
The pull request page collects the information people need to assess the proposed change. Its tabs and status areas serve different purposes:
- Conversation: The description, timeline, discussion comments, and reviews.
- Commits: The commits included in the proposed change and how the branch evolved.
- Checks: Results from automated tests and other validations configured for the repository.
- Files changed: The diff, showing what changed in the files.
- Merge status: Whether requirements or blockers remain, such as missing approvals.
This makes the pull request a review workspace, not just a button for merging code. The exact checks and merge requirements depend on the repository’s configuration. GitHub Docs: About pull requests
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Where do the proposed changes come from?
Fork and pull
A contributor works in a fork—a separate copy of the repository—and proposes changes from that fork to the original, or upstream, repository. This model lets someone contribute without having push access to the upstream project.
Shared repository
Collaborators with push access can create a topic branch in the shared repository, make changes there, and open a pull request to propose merging that branch into the project’s base branch. In either model, the request is reviewed before it is merged. GitHub Docs: About pull requests
What is a draft pull request?
A draft marks a pull request as work in progress. Draft pull requests cannot be merged. They also do not automatically request code-owner reviews. When the author marks the draft ready for review, GitHub requests reviews from code owners. GitHub Docs: About pull requests
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What can reviewers do?
People with read access can review and comment on a pull request. A review can offer general feedback, approve the proposed changes, or request changes. Approval indicates that the reviewer considers the change ready to merge; a request for changes flags feedback to address before merging. The project’s rules determine which approvals are required. GitHub Docs: About pull request reviews
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens when a pull request is merged?
Merging incorporates the proposed changes into the base branch. GitHub offers three merge methods when permitted by repository settings. They differ in how they record the change in project history:
| Method | How it records the change | History shape |
|---|---|---|
| Merge commit | Preserves the pull request’s commits and adds a merge commit. | Shows the branch’s commits and an explicit merge point. |
| Squash and merge | Combines the pull request’s commits into one commit on the base branch. | Records the change as one commit. |
| Rebase and merge | Adds the pull request’s commits to the base branch without a merge commit. | Maintains a linear history while keeping commits separate. |
The project’s preferred history and the organization of the commits help determine which method fits. Merging requires write permission, and repository settings control which methods are available. GitHub Docs: About pull request merges
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