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A GitHub pull request is a proposal to merge code changes into a project. It gives contributors and reviewers one place to discuss the change, inspect the code, run automated checks, and decide whether it is ready to merge. Opening one does not change the target branch; that happens only after someone merges it.
What does PR mean in GitHub?
PR means pull request. The name describes a request for a project’s maintainers to pull proposed changes into a target branch. A pull request (often shortened to “PR”) is both the proposal and the discussion and review space around it.
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GitHub supports two common ways to propose changes:
- Fork and pull: A contributor makes changes in a separate copy, or fork, of the project and opens a pull request to the upstream repository.
- Shared repository: A collaborator with push access works on a separate topic branch in the same repository and opens a pull request targeting another branch.
What happens when you open a pull request?
Opening a pull request creates a review page for the proposed changes. It does not merge them automatically. The page brings together several kinds of context:
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- Conversation: The description, timeline, comments, and reviews.
- Commits: The commits that make up the branch’s changes.
- Checks: Automated tests and other validations, when configured.
- Files changed: The code diff reviewers can inspect.
- Merge status: Whether there are blockers, missing approvals, or other requirements to meet.
This shared view helps the author explain the change and lets reviewers assess it before it becomes part of the target branch. GitHub Docs describes pull requests as a collaboration feature for discussing and reviewing changes before merging.
How do drafts and reviews work?
Draft pull requests
A draft pull request marks work as in progress. GitHub does not allow drafts to be merged, and drafts do not automatically request reviews from code owners. When the author marks a draft as ready for review, GitHub requests reviews from code owners.
Reviewer responses
People with read access to the repository can review and comment. A review may provide general feedback, approve the proposed changes, or request changes. An approval indicates the reviewer considers the changes ready to merge; a request for changes flags feedback to address before merging. Whether approval is sufficient to merge also depends on the repository’s rules and settings. GitHub Docs explains the review options and their purpose.
What are the GitHub pull request merge options?
When a pull request is ready, a user with write permission can merge it using one of the strategies the repository allows. The choice changes how the project’s history records the work:
| Merge strategy | What it records | History shape |
|---|---|---|
| Merge commit | Preserves the pull request branch’s commits and adds an explicit merge point. | Shows the branch’s commits and where it joined the base branch. |
| Squash and merge | Combines the pull request’s commits into one commit on the base branch. | Records the change as a single commit. |
| Rebase and merge | Adds the pull request’s commits to the base branch without a merge commit. | Keeps a linear history while retaining the commits individually. |
Projects choose among these options based on their preferred history and how the branch’s commits are organized. Repository settings determine which strategies are available. GitHub Docs details the merge methods and their effects.
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