Use pull requests to propose, discuss, and merge changes on GitHub. In this article A pull request proposes merging code changes from one branch into another. As a collaborative feature, pull requests give you a place to discuss and review work before it becomes part of a project. Why use pull requests Pull requests turn a set of code changes into a conversation. Instead of merging work directly, you propose it so that collaborators can weigh in. This helps you and your team maintain high quality and secure code, in a few ways: Catch bugs and problems early, before they reach the main branch. Discuss and improve changes together, with feedback tied to specific lines. Keep a clear, reviewable history of what changed and why. What you can do with pull requests Pull requests make your changes easy to review and validate. With a pull request, you can: Propose changes from a branch or a fork. Use stacked pull requests to break large code changes into a chain of smaller, dependent pull requests that you can review and merge independently. Discuss and review the proposed changes, line by line. Run automated checks, such as tests, builds, and code scanning, against the changes. Respond to feedback and update the pull request as it evolves. Merge the changes once reviews and required checks are satisfied.

Key parts of a pull request A pull request gathers everything you and your reviewers need into one place: Conversation shows the description, comments, reviews, and a timeline of activity. Commits shows how the branch changed over time. Checks shows the results of automated tests, builds, and other validations. Files changed shows the diff that reviewers comment on. The merge box summarizes whether you can merge your changes or not. It shows what may still need to happen, such as required reviews or checks, before a pull request can be merged. How pull requests fit your workflow Whether you're proposing changes or reviewing someone else's, a pull request follows a few stages: Branch or fork the repository to create an isolated place to work. Commit your changes as you go, building up a history of your work. Open a pull request to propose merging your changes into the base branch. Review and discuss the changes with collaborators, making updates as needed. Merge the pull request when it's ready. Quickstart for pull requests Quickstart for reviewing pull requests Writing code for a project