What is the difference between git fetch and git pull?

git fetch downloads new commits and updates your remote-tracking branches such as origin/main, but it does not touch your local branches or working files. git pull is git fetch followed by an integration step, a merge by default or a rebase if you ask for it.

git fetch origin           # safe, only updates origin/*
git log HEAD..origin/main  # inspect incoming commits
git merge origin/main      # integrate when ready

git pull                   # fetch + merge in one step
git pull --rebase          # fetch + rebase

Fetch first when you want to see what changed before it lands in your branch. Pull is a convenience when you already know you want the update.

Many teams set git config --global pull.rebase true or pull.ff only so that a pull never creates a surprise merge commit.

Takeaway: fetch is read-only for your work, pull changes your current branch.