← Glossary
What does "push" mean in programming?
push 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
To upload local commits to a remote repository. Pushing makes your changes visible to teammates and can trigger CI/CD pipelines. Avoid force-pushing to shared branches as it rewrites history for everyone.
Example
"Push your branch and open a pull request when you are ready for review."
Word forms
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| push | verb (infinitive) | To upload local commits to a remote repository | "Push your branch when you are ready for review." |
| pushed | past tense | Already uploaded commits to the remote | "I pushed the fix five minutes ago." |
| pushing | gerund | In the process of uploading commits to the remote | "Pushing to main directly is not allowed in this repo." |
Related terms
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