Introduction
Git merge conflicts are among the most common problems developers face when working in teams. You pull the latest changes from the repository, expecting everything to update smoothly, and suddenly Git displays a message indicating a merge conflict. For beginners and even experienced developers, this can feel confusing and stressful.
In simple words, a Git merge conflict happens when Git cannot automatically decide how to combine changes from different people. This usually occurs when the same file or the same lines of code were changed in multiple places. The good news is that merge conflicts are normal, fixable, and part of everyday software development.
This article explains why merge conflicts occur and how to fix them step by step, in very simple language, with real-life examples and practical guidance.
What Is a Git Merge Conflict?
A Git merge conflict occurs when Git tries to merge two versions of code but cannot determine which is correct. Git is smart, but it cannot guess developer intent.
For example, imagine two developers editing the same paragraph in a document. One changes the sentence wording, and the other deletes that sentence. When Git tries to combine both changes, it gets confused because it cannot keep both at the same time.
This situation commonly happens during git pull, which internally performs a fetch followed by a merge.
Common Reasons for Merge Conflicts While Pulling Code
Merge conflicts usually do not happen randomly. There are clear and predictable reasons behind them.
One common reason is when two developers modify the same lines in the same file. Another reason is when one developer deletes a file while another updates it. Conflicts can also occur when branches stay separate for too long and accumulate many changes.
In team environments, especially in India-based IT projects where multiple developers work on shared modules, merge conflicts are very common during daily code pulls.
What You See When a Merge Conflict Happens
When a conflict occurs, Git stops the merge and shows a message indicating which files are conflicted. Inside those files, Git adds special markers to show the conflicting changes.
You may see symbols like <<<<<<<, =======, and >>>>>>>. These markers indicate what your local code looks like and what the incoming code contains. Git is essentially asking you to choose what should remain.
This is normal behavior and not an error in your code.
Step 1: Understand the Conflict Before Fixing It
The most important step is to read the conflict carefully. Do not rush to delete anything immediately.
Open the conflicted file and observe both versions of the code. One part represents your local changes, and the other represents changes from the remote repository. Understanding why both changes exist helps you make the correct decision.
Think of this like comparing two edited versions of the same document and deciding the final version.
Step 2: Decide Which Code to Keep
Once you understand the conflict, decide what the final code should look like. You may keep your version, keep the incoming version, or combine both in a logical way.
For example, if your change fixes a bug and the incoming change adds a feature, you may need to keep both by merging the logic manually. This decision depends on the project requirement, not on Git.
Git only highlights the conflict; the decision is always yours.
Step 3: Edit the File and Remove Conflict Markers
After deciding the correct code, manually edit the file. Remove the conflict markers and keep only the valid and required code.
It is very important to ensure that no conflict symbols remain in the file. Leaving even one marker will cause errors later.
Once done, save the file and review it carefully to ensure it still works as expected.
Step 4: Mark the Conflict as Resolved
After fixing the file, you must tell Git that the conflict has been resolved. This is done by adding the file to staging.
This step is often missed by beginners. If you do not add the resolved file, Git will still think the conflict exists.
Once staged, Git understands that you have manually handled the issue.
Step 5: Complete the Merge Process
After staging all conflicted files, complete the merge by creating a commit. This commit represents the final combined version of the code.
This step finalizes the pull operation. After this, your branch will contain both your original changes and the latest updates from the remote repository.
At this point, your working directory should be clean, and development can continue normally.
Using Git Tools to Make Conflict Resolution Easier
Many developers use tools like IDE-integrated Git panels, visual merge tools, or code editors that highlight conflicts clearly. These tools show differences side by side, making it easier to understand and resolve conflicts.
For beginners, using such tools reduces fear and improves accuracy while fixing conflicts.
Best Practices to Avoid Frequent Merge Conflicts
While conflicts cannot be completely avoided, their frequency can be reduced. Pull changes regularly instead of waiting for many days. Communicate with team members when working on shared files. Keep branches short-lived and focused on specific tasks.
Following these habits makes collaboration smoother and reduces last-minute merge stress.
Summary
Git merge conflicts during a pull happen when Git cannot automatically combine changes made by different developers, usually because the same files or lines were modified. Fixing them involves understanding the conflict, choosing the correct code, removing conflict markers, staging the resolved files, and completing the merge. Although merge conflicts may feel intimidating at first, they are a normal part of team-based development, and with regular practice and good collaboration habits, they become easier to handle and less frequent over time.