What does "pull request" mean in programming?
pull request is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
A request to merge changes from one branch into another, typically from a feature branch into main. Pull requests (PRs) are the standard unit of code review: they show the diff, allow inline comments, require approvals, and trigger CI checks before merging. Called 'merge request' (MR) on GitLab.
Example
"I opened a pull request for the new login flow. It needs two approvals before it can be merged."
Related terms
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