How does github work

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Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: GitHub is a cloud-based platform for version control and collaboration using Git, launched in 2008 by Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and PJ Hyett. It hosts over 100 million developers and 420 million repositories as of 2023, enabling code sharing, branching, merging, and pull requests. The platform was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 for $7.5 billion, expanding its enterprise tools and integrations.

Key Facts

Launched in 2008 by Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and PJ Hyett
Hosts over 100 million developers and 420 million repositories as of 2023
Acquired by Microsoft in 2018 for $7.5 billion
Uses Git for distributed version control, allowing branching and merging
Features include pull requests, issues tracking, and Actions for CI/CD

Overview

GitHub is a web-based platform for version control and collaboration, built on Git, a distributed version control system created by Linus Torvalds in 2005. Founded in 2008 by Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and PJ Hyett, GitHub quickly became the largest host of source code globally, with over 100 million developers and 420 million repositories as of 2023. Initially a startup, it grew through its freemium model, offering free public repositories and paid private ones. In 2018, Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion, integrating it with tools like Azure and Visual Studio. The platform supports open-source projects, such as Linux and React, and has become essential for software development, education, and enterprise workflows, with features like GitHub Pages for hosting websites and GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted coding.

How It Works

GitHub operates by leveraging Git for version control, allowing developers to track changes, create branches, and merge code. Users create repositories to store project files, with each change recorded as a commit. The platform facilitates collaboration through pull requests, where developers propose changes, review code, and discuss modifications before merging. Issues and projects help manage tasks and bugs, while Actions automate workflows like testing and deployment via CI/CD pipelines. GitHub integrates with tools like Slack and Jira, and its web interface provides a graphical view of repositories, including forks for independent copies. Security features include dependency scanning and secret detection, and GitHub Pages enables static site hosting. The platform uses a distributed architecture, ensuring data redundancy and high availability, with data centers globally.

Why It Matters

GitHub is crucial for modern software development, enabling global collaboration on projects from open-source initiatives to enterprise applications. It accelerates innovation by allowing developers to share code, reuse libraries, and contribute to communities, with over 65 million new repositories created in 2022 alone. The platform supports education through GitHub Classroom and fosters diversity with programs like GitHub Sponsors for funding creators. Its impact extends beyond coding to documentation, research, and DevOps, with tools like GitHub Actions streamlining automation. By hosting critical infrastructure like Kubernetes and TensorFlow, GitHub underpins technology ecosystems, driving efficiency and transparency in development workflows worldwide.