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+[[def_alternate_object_database]]alternate object database::
+ Via the alternates mechanism, a <<def_repository,repository>>
+ can inherit part of its <<def_object_database,object database>>
+ from another object database, which is called an "alternate".
+
+[[def_bare_repository]]bare repository::
+ A bare repository is normally an appropriately
+ named <<def_directory,directory>> with a `.git` suffix that does not
+ have a locally checked-out copy of any of the files under
+ revision control. That is, all of the Git
+ administrative and control files that would normally be present in the
+ hidden `.git` sub-directory are directly present in the
+ `repository.git` directory instead,
+ and no other files are present and checked out. Usually publishers of
+ public repositories make bare repositories available.
+
+[[def_blob_object]]blob object::
+ Untyped <<def_object,object>>, e.g. the contents of a file.
+
+[[def_branch]]branch::
+ A "branch" is an active line of development. The most recent
+ <<def_commit,commit>> on a branch is referred to as the tip of
+ that branch. The tip of the branch is referenced by a branch
+ <<def_head,head>>, which moves forward as additional development
+ is done on the branch. A single Git
+ <<def_repository,repository>> can track an arbitrary number of
+ branches, but your <<def_working_tree,working tree>> is
+ associated with just one of them (the "current" or "checked out"
+ branch), and <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> points to that branch.
+
+[[def_cache]]cache::
+ Obsolete for: <<def_index,index>>.
+
+[[def_chain]]chain::
+ A list of objects, where each <<def_object,object>> in the list contains
+ a reference to its successor (for example, the successor of a
+ <<def_commit,commit>> could be one of its <<def_parent,parents>>).
+
+[[def_changeset]]changeset::
+ BitKeeper/cvsps speak for "<<def_commit,commit>>". Since Git does not
+ store changes, but states, it really does not make sense to use the term
+ "changesets" with Git.
+
+[[def_checkout]]checkout::
+ The action of updating all or part of the
+ <<def_working_tree,working tree>> with a <<def_tree_object,tree object>>
+ or <<def_blob_object,blob>> from the
+ <<def_object_database,object database>>, and updating the
+ <<def_index,index>> and <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> if the whole working tree has
+ been pointed at a new <<def_branch,branch>>.
+
+[[def_cherry-picking]]cherry-picking::
+ In <<def_SCM,SCM>> jargon, "cherry pick" means to choose a subset of
+ changes out of a series of changes (typically commits) and record them
+ as a new series of changes on top of a different codebase. In Git, this is
+ performed by the "git cherry-pick" command to extract the change introduced
+ by an existing <<def_commit,commit>> and to record it based on the tip
+ of the current <<def_branch,branch>> as a new commit.
+
+[[def_clean]]clean::
+ A <<def_working_tree,working tree>> is clean, if it
+ corresponds to the <<def_revision,revision>> referenced by the current
+ <<def_head,head>>. Also see "<<def_dirty,dirty>>".
+
+[[def_commit]]commit::
+ As a noun: A single point in the
+ Git history; the entire history of a project is represented as a
+ set of interrelated commits. The word "commit" is often
+ used by Git in the same places other revision control systems
+ use the words "revision" or "version". Also used as a short
+ hand for <<def_commit_object,commit object>>.
++
+As a verb: The action of storing a new snapshot of the project's
+state in the Git history, by creating a new commit representing the current
+state of the <<def_index,index>> and advancing <<def_HEAD,HEAD>>
+to point at the new commit.
+
+[[def_commit_object]]commit object::
+ An <<def_object,object>> which contains the information about a
+ particular <<def_revision,revision>>, such as <<def_parent,parents>>, committer,
+ author, date and the <<def_tree_object,tree object>> which corresponds
+ to the top <<def_directory,directory>> of the stored
+ revision.
+
+[[def_commit-ish]]commit-ish (also committish)::
+ A <<def_commit_object,commit object>> or an
+ <<def_object,object>> that can be recursively dereferenced to
+ a commit object.
+ The following are all commit-ishes:
+ a commit object,
+ a <<def_tag_object,tag object>> that points to a commit
+ object,
+ a tag object that points to a tag object that points to a
+ commit object,
+ etc.
+
+[[def_core_git]]core Git::
+ Fundamental data structures and utilities of Git. Exposes only limited
+ source code management tools.
+
+[[def_DAG]]DAG::
+ Directed acyclic graph. The <<def_commit_object,commit objects>> form a
+ directed acyclic graph, because they have parents (directed), and the
+ graph of commit objects is acyclic (there is no <<def_chain,chain>>
+ which begins and ends with the same <<def_object,object>>).
+
+[[def_dangling_object]]dangling object::
+ An <<def_unreachable_object,unreachable object>> which is not
+ <<def_reachable,reachable>> even from other unreachable objects; a
+ dangling object has no references to it from any
+ reference or <<def_object,object>> in the <<def_repository,repository>>.
+
+[[def_detached_HEAD]]detached HEAD::
+ Normally the <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> stores the name of a
+ <<def_branch,branch>>, and commands that operate on the
+ history HEAD represents operate on the history leading to the
+ tip of the branch the HEAD points at. However, Git also
+ allows you to <<def_checkout,check out>> an arbitrary
+ <<def_commit,commit>> that isn't necessarily the tip of any
+ particular branch. The HEAD in such a state is called
+ "detached".
++
+Note that commands that operate on the history of the current branch
+(e.g. `git commit` to build a new history on top of it) still work
+while the HEAD is detached. They update the HEAD to point at the tip
+of the updated history without affecting any branch. Commands that
+update or inquire information _about_ the current branch (e.g. `git
+branch --set-upstream-to` that sets what remote-tracking branch the
+current branch integrates with) obviously do not work, as there is no
+(real) current branch to ask about in this state.
+
+[[def_directory]]directory::
+ The list you get with "ls" :-)
+
+[[def_dirty]]dirty::
+ A <<def_working_tree,working tree>> is said to be "dirty" if
+ it contains modifications which have not been <<def_commit,committed>> to the current
+ <<def_branch,branch>>.
+
+[[def_evil_merge]]evil merge::
+ An evil merge is a <<def_merge,merge>> that introduces changes that
+ do not appear in any <<def_parent,parent>>.
+
+[[def_fast_forward]]fast-forward::
+ A fast-forward is a special type of <<def_merge,merge>> where you have a
+ <<def_revision,revision>> and you are "merging" another
+ <<def_branch,branch>>'s changes that happen to be a descendant of what
+ you have. In such these cases, you do not make a new <<def_merge,merge>>
+ <<def_commit,commit>> but instead just update to his
+ revision. This will happen frequently on a
+ <<def_remote_tracking_branch,remote-tracking branch>> of a remote
+ <<def_repository,repository>>.
+
+[[def_fetch]]fetch::
+ Fetching a <<def_branch,branch>> means to get the
+ branch's <<def_head_ref,head ref>> from a remote
+ <<def_repository,repository>>, to find out which objects are
+ missing from the local <<def_object_database,object database>>,
+ and to get them, too. See also linkgit:git-fetch[1].
+
+[[def_file_system]]file system::
+ Linus Torvalds originally designed Git to be a user space file system,
+ i.e. the infrastructure to hold files and directories. That ensured the
+ efficiency and speed of Git.
+
+[[def_git_archive]]Git archive::
+ Synonym for <<def_repository,repository>> (for arch people).
+
+[[def_gitfile]]gitfile::
+ A plain file `.git` at the root of a working tree that
+ points at the directory that is the real repository.
+
+[[def_grafts]]grafts::
+ Grafts enables two otherwise different lines of development to be joined
+ together by recording fake ancestry information for commits. This way
+ you can make Git pretend the set of <<def_parent,parents>> a <<def_commit,commit>> has
+ is different from what was recorded when the commit was
+ created. Configured via the `.git/info/grafts` file.
++
+Note that the grafts mechanism is outdated and can lead to problems
+transferring objects between repositories; see linkgit:git-replace[1]
+for a more flexible and robust system to do the same thing.
+
+[[def_hash]]hash::
+ In Git's context, synonym for <<def_object_name,object name>>.
+
+[[def_head]]head::
+ A <<def_ref,named reference>> to the <<def_commit,commit>> at the tip of a
+ <<def_branch,branch>>. Heads are stored in a file in
+ `$GIT_DIR/refs/heads/` directory, except when using packed refs. (See
+ linkgit:git-pack-refs[1].)
+
+[[def_HEAD]]HEAD::
+ The current <<def_branch,branch>>. In more detail: Your <<def_working_tree,
+ working tree>> is normally derived from the state of the tree
+ referred to by HEAD. HEAD is a reference to one of the
+ <<def_head,heads>> in your repository, except when using a
+ <<def_detached_HEAD,detached HEAD>>, in which case it directly
+ references an arbitrary commit.
+
+[[def_head_ref]]head ref::
+ A synonym for <<def_head,head>>.
+
+[[def_hook]]hook::
+ During the normal execution of several Git commands, call-outs are made
+ to optional scripts that allow a developer to add functionality or
+ checking. Typically, the hooks allow for a command to be pre-verified
+ and potentially aborted, and allow for a post-notification after the
+ operation is done. The hook scripts are found in the
+ `$GIT_DIR/hooks/` directory, and are enabled by simply
+ removing the `.sample` suffix from the filename. In earlier versions
+ of Git you had to make them executable.
+
+[[def_index]]index::
+ A collection of files with stat information, whose contents are stored
+ as objects. The index is a stored version of your
+ <<def_working_tree,working tree>>. Truth be told, it can also contain a second, and even
+ a third version of a working tree, which are used
+ when <<def_merge,merging>>.
+
+[[def_index_entry]]index entry::
+ The information regarding a particular file, stored in the
+ <<def_index,index>>. An index entry can be unmerged, if a
+ <<def_merge,merge>> was started, but not yet finished (i.e. if
+ the index contains multiple versions of that file).
+
+[[def_master]]master::
+ The default development <<def_branch,branch>>. Whenever you
+ create a Git <<def_repository,repository>>, a branch named
+ "master" is created, and becomes the active branch. In most
+ cases, this contains the local development, though that is
+ purely by convention and is not required.
+
+[[def_merge]]merge::
+ As a verb: To bring the contents of another
+ <<def_branch,branch>> (possibly from an external
+ <<def_repository,repository>>) into the current branch. In the
+ case where the merged-in branch is from a different repository,
+ this is done by first <<def_fetch,fetching>> the remote branch
+ and then merging the result into the current branch. This
+ combination of fetch and merge operations is called a
+ <<def_pull,pull>>. Merging is performed by an automatic process
+ that identifies changes made since the branches diverged, and
+ then applies all those changes together. In cases where changes
+ conflict, manual intervention may be required to complete the
+ merge.
++
+As a noun: unless it is a <<def_fast_forward,fast-forward>>, a
+successful merge results in the creation of a new <<def_commit,commit>>
+representing the result of the merge, and having as
+<<def_parent,parents>> the tips of the merged <<def_branch,branches>>.
+This commit is referred to as a "merge commit", or sometimes just a
+"merge".
+
+[[def_object]]object::
+ The unit of storage in Git. It is uniquely identified by the
+ <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>> of its contents. Consequently, an
+ object can not be changed.
+
+[[def_object_database]]object database::
+ Stores a set of "objects", and an individual <<def_object,object>> is
+ identified by its <<def_object_name,object name>>. The objects usually
+ live in `$GIT_DIR/objects/`.
+
+[[def_object_identifier]]object identifier::
+ Synonym for <<def_object_name,object name>>.
+
+[[def_object_name]]object name::
+ The unique identifier of an <<def_object,object>>. The
+ object name is usually represented by a 40 character
+ hexadecimal string. Also colloquially called <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>>.
+
+[[def_object_type]]object type::
+ One of the identifiers "<<def_commit_object,commit>>",
+ "<<def_tree_object,tree>>", "<<def_tag_object,tag>>" or
+ "<<def_blob_object,blob>>" describing the type of an
+ <<def_object,object>>.
+
+[[def_octopus]]octopus::
+ To <<def_merge,merge>> more than two <<def_branch,branches>>.
+
+[[def_origin]]origin::
+ The default upstream <<def_repository,repository>>. Most projects have
+ at least one upstream project which they track. By default
+ 'origin' is used for that purpose. New upstream updates
+ will be fetched into <<def_remote_tracking_branch,remote-tracking branches>> named
+ origin/name-of-upstream-branch, which you can see using
+ `git branch -r`.
+
+[[def_pack]]pack::
+ A set of objects which have been compressed into one file (to save space
+ or to transmit them efficiently).
+
+[[def_pack_index]]pack index::
+ The list of identifiers, and other information, of the objects in a
+ <<def_pack,pack>>, to assist in efficiently accessing the contents of a
+ pack.
+
+[[def_pathspec]]pathspec::
+ Pattern used to limit paths in Git commands.
++
+Pathspecs are used on the command line of "git ls-files", "git
+ls-tree", "git add", "git grep", "git diff", "git checkout",
+and many other commands to
+limit the scope of operations to some subset of the tree or
+worktree. See the documentation of each command for whether
+paths are relative to the current directory or toplevel. The
+pathspec syntax is as follows:
++
+--
+
+* any path matches itself
+* the pathspec up to the last slash represents a
+ directory prefix. The scope of that pathspec is
+ limited to that subtree.
+* the rest of the pathspec is a pattern for the remainder
+ of the pathname. Paths relative to the directory
+ prefix will be matched against that pattern using fnmatch(3);
+ in particular, '*' and '?' _can_ match directory separators.
+
+--
++
+For example, Documentation/*.jpg will match all .jpg files
+in the Documentation subtree,
+including Documentation/chapter_1/figure_1.jpg.
++
+A pathspec that begins with a colon `:` has special meaning. In the
+short form, the leading colon `:` is followed by zero or more "magic
+signature" letters (which optionally is terminated by another colon `:`),
+and the remainder is the pattern to match against the path.
+The "magic signature" consists of ASCII symbols that are neither
+alphanumeric, glob, regex special characters nor colon.
+The optional colon that terminates the "magic signature" can be
+omitted if the pattern begins with a character that does not belong to
+"magic signature" symbol set and is not a colon.
++
+In the long form, the leading colon `:` is followed by a open
+parenthesis `(`, a comma-separated list of zero or more "magic words",
+and a close parentheses `)`, and the remainder is the pattern to match
+against the path.
++
+A pathspec with only a colon means "there is no pathspec". This form
+should not be combined with other pathspec.
++
+--
+top;;
+ The magic word `top` (magic signature: `/`) makes the pattern
+ match from the root of the working tree, even when you are
+ running the command from inside a subdirectory.
+
+literal;;
+ Wildcards in the pattern such as `*` or `?` are treated
+ as literal characters.
+
+icase;;
+ Case insensitive match.
+
+glob;;
+ Git treats the pattern as a shell glob suitable for
+ consumption by fnmatch(3) with the FNM_PATHNAME flag:
+ wildcards in the pattern will not match a / in the pathname.
+ For example, "Documentation/{asterisk}.html" matches
+ "Documentation/git.html" but not "Documentation/ppc/ppc.html"
+ or "tools/perf/Documentation/perf.html".
++
+Two consecutive asterisks ("`**`") in patterns matched against
+full pathname may have special meaning:
+
+ - A leading "`**`" followed by a slash means match in all
+ directories. For example, "`**/foo`" matches file or directory
+ "`foo`" anywhere, the same as pattern "`foo`". "`**/foo/bar`"
+ matches file or directory "`bar`" anywhere that is directly
+ under directory "`foo`".
+
+ - A trailing "`/**`" matches everything inside. For example,
+ "`abc/**`" matches all files inside directory "abc", relative
+ to the location of the `.gitignore` file, with infinite depth.
+
+ - A slash followed by two consecutive asterisks then a slash
+ matches zero or more directories. For example, "`a/**/b`"
+ matches "`a/b`", "`a/x/b`", "`a/x/y/b`" and so on.
+
+ - Other consecutive asterisks are considered invalid.
++
+Glob magic is incompatible with literal magic.
+
+exclude;;
+ After a path matches any non-exclude pathspec, it will be run
+ through all exclude pathspec (magic signature: `!`). If it
+ matches, the path is ignored.
+--
+
+[[def_parent]]parent::
+ A <<def_commit_object,commit object>> contains a (possibly empty) list
+ of the logical predecessor(s) in the line of development, i.e. its
+ parents.
+
+[[def_pickaxe]]pickaxe::
+ The term <<def_pickaxe,pickaxe>> refers to an option to the diffcore
+ routines that help select changes that add or delete a given text
+ string. With the `--pickaxe-all` option, it can be used to view the full
+ <<def_changeset,changeset>> that introduced or removed, say, a
+ particular line of text. See linkgit:git-diff[1].
+
+[[def_plumbing]]plumbing::
+ Cute name for <<def_core_git,core Git>>.
+
+[[def_porcelain]]porcelain::
+ Cute name for programs and program suites depending on
+ <<def_core_git,core Git>>, presenting a high level access to
+ core Git. Porcelains expose more of a <<def_SCM,SCM>>
+ interface than the <<def_plumbing,plumbing>>.
+
+[[def_per_worktree_ref]]per-worktree ref::
+ Refs that are per-<<def_working_tree,worktree>>, rather than
+ global. This is presently only <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> and any refs
+ that start with `refs/bisect/`, but might later include other
+ unusual refs.
+
+[[def_pseudoref]]pseudoref::
+ Pseudorefs are a class of files under `$GIT_DIR` which behave
+ like refs for the purposes of rev-parse, but which are treated
+ specially by git. Pseudorefs both have names that are all-caps,
+ and always start with a line consisting of a
+ <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>> followed by whitespace. So, HEAD is not a
+ pseudoref, because it is sometimes a symbolic ref. They might
+ optionally contain some additional data. `MERGE_HEAD` and
+ `CHERRY_PICK_HEAD` are examples. Unlike
+ <<def_per_worktree_ref,per-worktree refs>>, these files cannot
+ be symbolic refs, and never have reflogs. They also cannot be
+ updated through the normal ref update machinery. Instead,
+ they are updated by directly writing to the files. However,
+ they can be read as if they were refs, so `git rev-parse
+ MERGE_HEAD` will work.
+
+[[def_pull]]pull::
+ Pulling a <<def_branch,branch>> means to <<def_fetch,fetch>> it and
+ <<def_merge,merge>> it. See also linkgit:git-pull[1].
+
+[[def_push]]push::
+ Pushing a <<def_branch,branch>> means to get the branch's
+ <<def_head_ref,head ref>> from a remote <<def_repository,repository>>,
+ find out if it is a direct ancestor to the branch's local
+ head ref, and in that case, putting all
+ objects, which are <<def_reachable,reachable>> from the local
+ head ref, and which are missing from the remote
+ repository, into the remote
+ <<def_object_database,object database>>, and updating the remote
+ head ref. If the remote <<def_head,head>> is not an
+ ancestor to the local head, the push fails.
+
+[[def_reachable]]reachable::
+ All of the ancestors of a given <<def_commit,commit>> are said to be
+ "reachable" from that commit. More
+ generally, one <<def_object,object>> is reachable from
+ another if we can reach the one from the other by a <<def_chain,chain>>
+ that follows <<def_tag,tags>> to whatever they tag,
+ <<def_commit_object,commits>> to their parents or trees, and
+ <<def_tree_object,trees>> to the trees or <<def_blob_object,blobs>>
+ that they contain.
+
+[[def_rebase]]rebase::
+ To reapply a series of changes from a <<def_branch,branch>> to a
+ different base, and reset the <<def_head,head>> of that branch
+ to the result.
+
+[[def_ref]]ref::
+ A name that begins with `refs/` (e.g. `refs/heads/master`)
+ that points to an <<def_object_name,object name>> or another
+ ref (the latter is called a <<def_symref,symbolic ref>>).
+ For convenience, a ref can sometimes be abbreviated when used
+ as an argument to a Git command; see linkgit:gitrevisions[7]
+ for details.
+ Refs are stored in the <<def_repository,repository>>.
++
+The ref namespace is hierarchical.
+Different subhierarchies are used for different purposes (e.g. the
+`refs/heads/` hierarchy is used to represent local branches).
++
+There are a few special-purpose refs that do not begin with `refs/`.
+The most notable example is `HEAD`.
+
+[[def_reflog]]reflog::
+ A reflog shows the local "history" of a ref. In other words,
+ it can tell you what the 3rd last revision in _this_ repository
+ was, and what was the current state in _this_ repository,
+ yesterday 9:14pm. See linkgit:git-reflog[1] for details.
+
+[[def_refspec]]refspec::
+ A "refspec" is used by <<def_fetch,fetch>> and
+ <<def_push,push>> to describe the mapping between remote
+ <<def_ref,ref>> and local ref.
+
+[[def_remote]]remote repository::
+ A <<def_repository,repository>> which is used to track the same
+ project but resides somewhere else. To communicate with remotes,
+ see <<def_fetch,fetch>> or <<def_push,push>>.
+
+[[def_remote_tracking_branch]]remote-tracking branch::
+ A <<def_ref,ref>> that is used to follow changes from another
+ <<def_repository,repository>>. It typically looks like
+ 'refs/remotes/foo/bar' (indicating that it tracks a branch named
+ 'bar' in a remote named 'foo'), and matches the right-hand-side of
+ a configured fetch <<def_refspec,refspec>>. A remote-tracking
+ branch should not contain direct modifications or have local
+ commits made to it.
+
+[[def_repository]]repository::
+ A collection of <<def_ref,refs>> together with an
+ <<def_object_database,object database>> containing all objects
+ which are <<def_reachable,reachable>> from the refs, possibly
+ accompanied by meta data from one or more <<def_porcelain,porcelains>>. A
+ repository can share an object database with other repositories
+ via <<def_alternate_object_database,alternates mechanism>>.
+
+[[def_resolve]]resolve::
+ The action of fixing up manually what a failed automatic
+ <<def_merge,merge>> left behind.
+
+[[def_revision]]revision::
+ Synonym for <<def_commit,commit>> (the noun).
+
+[[def_rewind]]rewind::
+ To throw away part of the development, i.e. to assign the
+ <<def_head,head>> to an earlier <<def_revision,revision>>.
+
+[[def_SCM]]SCM::
+ Source code management (tool).
+
+[[def_SHA1]]SHA-1::
+ "Secure Hash Algorithm 1"; a cryptographic hash function.
+ In the context of Git used as a synonym for <<def_object_name,object name>>.
+
+[[def_shallow_repository]]shallow repository::
+ A shallow <<def_repository,repository>> has an incomplete
+ history some of whose <<def_commit,commits>> have <<def_parent,parents>> cauterized away (in other
+ words, Git is told to pretend that these commits do not have the
+ parents, even though they are recorded in the <<def_commit_object,commit
+ object>>). This is sometimes useful when you are interested only in the
+ recent history of a project even though the real history recorded in the
+ upstream is much larger. A shallow repository
+ is created by giving the `--depth` option to linkgit:git-clone[1], and
+ its history can be later deepened with linkgit:git-fetch[1].
+
+[[def_submodule]]submodule::
+ A <<def_repository,repository>> that holds the history of a
+ separate project inside another repository (the latter of
+ which is called <<def_superproject, superproject>>).
+
+[[def_superproject]]superproject::
+ A <<def_repository,repository>> that references repositories
+ of other projects in its working tree as <<def_submodule,submodules>>.
+ The superproject knows about the names of (but does not hold
+ copies of) commit objects of the contained submodules.
+
+[[def_symref]]symref::
+ Symbolic reference: instead of containing the <<def_SHA1,SHA-1>>
+ id itself, it is of the format 'ref: refs/some/thing' and when
+ referenced, it recursively dereferences to this reference.
+ '<<def_HEAD,HEAD>>' is a prime example of a symref. Symbolic
+ references are manipulated with the linkgit:git-symbolic-ref[1]
+ command.
+
+[[def_tag]]tag::
+ A <<def_ref,ref>> under `refs/tags/` namespace that points to an
+ object of an arbitrary type (typically a tag points to either a
+ <<def_tag_object,tag>> or a <<def_commit_object,commit object>>).
+ In contrast to a <<def_head,head>>, a tag is not updated by
+ the `commit` command. A Git tag has nothing to do with a Lisp
+ tag (which would be called an <<def_object_type,object type>>
+ in Git's context). A tag is most typically used to mark a particular
+ point in the commit ancestry <<def_chain,chain>>.
+
+[[def_tag_object]]tag object::
+ An <<def_object,object>> containing a <<def_ref,ref>> pointing to
+ another object, which can contain a message just like a
+ <<def_commit_object,commit object>>. It can also contain a (PGP)
+ signature, in which case it is called a "signed tag object".
+
+[[def_topic_branch]]topic branch::
+ A regular Git <<def_branch,branch>> that is used by a developer to
+ identify a conceptual line of development. Since branches are very easy
+ and inexpensive, it is often desirable to have several small branches
+ that each contain very well defined concepts or small incremental yet
+ related changes.
+
+[[def_tree]]tree::
+ Either a <<def_working_tree,working tree>>, or a <<def_tree_object,tree
+ object>> together with the dependent <<def_blob_object,blob>> and tree objects
+ (i.e. a stored representation of a working tree).
+
+[[def_tree_object]]tree object::
+ An <<def_object,object>> containing a list of file names and modes along
+ with refs to the associated blob and/or tree objects. A
+ <<def_tree,tree>> is equivalent to a <<def_directory,directory>>.
+
+[[def_tree-ish]]tree-ish (also treeish)::
+ A <<def_tree_object,tree object>> or an <<def_object,object>>
+ that can be recursively dereferenced to a tree object.
+ Dereferencing a <<def_commit_object,commit object>> yields the
+ tree object corresponding to the <<def_revision,revision>>'s
+ top <<def_directory,directory>>.
+ The following are all tree-ishes:
+ a <<def_commit-ish,commit-ish>>,
+ a tree object,
+ a <<def_tag_object,tag object>> that points to a tree object,
+ a tag object that points to a tag object that points to a tree
+ object,
+ etc.
+
+[[def_unmerged_index]]unmerged index::
+ An <<def_index,index>> which contains unmerged
+ <<def_index_entry,index entries>>.
+
+[[def_unreachable_object]]unreachable object::
+ An <<def_object,object>> which is not <<def_reachable,reachable>> from a
+ <<def_branch,branch>>, <<def_tag,tag>>, or any other reference.
+
+[[def_upstream_branch]]upstream branch::
+ The default <<def_branch,branch>> that is merged into the branch in
+ question (or the branch in question is rebased onto). It is configured
+ via branch.<name>.remote and branch.<name>.merge. If the upstream branch
+ of 'A' is 'origin/B' sometimes we say "'A' is tracking 'origin/B'".
+
+[[def_working_tree]]working tree::
+ The tree of actual checked out files. The working tree normally
+ contains the contents of the <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> commit's tree,
+ plus any local changes that you have made but not yet committed.