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What does "squash" mean in programming?

squash 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 combine multiple Git commits into a single one. Squashing cleans up the commit history before merging a branch.

Example

"Squash the WIP commits before merging so the history stays clean."

Word forms

FormTypeMeaningExample
squashverb (infinitive)To combine multiple commits into a single commit"Squash your commits before merging to keep history clean."
squashedpast tenseAlready combined into fewer commits"The pull request was squashed and merged."

Related terms

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