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What Is a Fork in GitHub? Learn Now

March 14, 2025

What Is a Fork in GitHub? A fork creates a personal copy of someone else’s repository under your own GitHub account. When exploring the world of collaborative coding and open source contributions, understanding this GitHub feature is essential.

Forking lets developers make changes without affecting the upstream repository. Think of a busy open source project like React or TensorFlow, where hundreds of contributors collaborate daily through forks.

Want to fix a bug in a popular library? Or test a new feature without risking the main codebase? Forking provides that safe environment.

By the end of this article, you’ll master:

Creating and managing your forked remote repository
Setting up proper Git commands for synchronization
Submitting pull requests back to the original project
Following proper GitHub Flow techniques

Unlike simple cloning, which just downloads code to your machine, forking establishes a connection between your copy and the original, facilitating seamless code integration later.

Repository maintainers rely on forks to manage incoming contributions effectively. This distributed version control approach has revolutionized how software development teams collaborate globally.

Let’s explore what makes forking such a powerful tool in the GitHub interface and how you can leverage it in your next project.

What Is a Fork in GitHub?

A fork in GitHub is a copy of a repository that exists under your account, allowing you to experiment with changes without affecting the original project. It enables collaboration by letting you modify code, submit pull requests, and contribute to open-source projects while keeping the upstream repository intact.

Understanding Forking

Key Features of Forking

Creation of an independent copy of a repository.

When you fork a repository on GitHub, you’re creating your own personal copy under your GitHub account. This isn’t just a basic duplicate. It’s a complete code storage unit with all its history and branches intact.

Popular open source projects like React, TensorFlow, and Linux rely heavily on this forking mechanism. Each fork maintains its own development path while staying connected to the original.

# Example of how forks appear in GitHub CLI
gh repo view username/forked-project

Preservation of commit history and branches.

Your fork keeps the entire commit history and branch management structure of the original. This helps you:

Track how the code evolved
Understand design decisions
Keep consistent with the original project’s structure

This preservation makes it easy to propose changes that align with the project’s standards.

Distinction Between Forking and Cloning

Forking as an independent operation in Git hosting platforms like GitHub.

Forking happens at the platform level through the GitHub interface, not locally. It creates an entirely new remote repository tied to your account.

While you can sync with the upstream repository (original project), your fork remains separate. This separation creates clear boundaries between your work and the main project.

Cloning as a local copy of an existing repository.

Git clone is different. It downloads code to your machine for offline work:

git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git

Most developers follow this workflow:

Fork on GitHub
Clone their fork locally
Make changes
Push to their fork
Create pull requests

This combined approach lets you work privately before sharing with project maintainers.

The Purpose and Benefits of Forking

Reasons for Forking

Enabling independent development without impacting the original repository.

Forking creates an isolated environment for code changes. Major projects like Angular and Node.js have thousands of forks where contributors experiment without risking the main codebase.

Take Linux kernel development – Linus Torvalds reviews thousands of changes that start as forks before accepting them.

Supporting experimentation and testing in a safe environment.

Want to try a new feature? Fix a bug? Test a radical idea? Forks provide that sandbox.

Companies like Facebook maintain forks of libraries they use, testing modifications before suggesting changes to the main project.

Facilitating contributions to open-source projects.

Forks democratize open source contributions. They allow anyone to suggest improvements without needing direct write access. This is how GitHub Flow works in practice.

Advantages of Forking

Encourages collaboration through pull requests.

The pull request system is built around forks. This workflow lets repository maintainers review changes before merging them.

Origin Repository (main project)
       ↑
       | Pull Request
       |
Your Fork (with your changes)

Code review becomes structured through this process, with clear before/after comparisons.

Allows for parallel development of features or fixes.

Different contributors can work on various features simultaneously in separate forks. This parallel approach speeds up development without creating merge chaos.

Modern tools like GitHub Desktop and GitHub CLI make tracking multiple forks easier.

Simplifies version management for personal or team projects.

Forks help maintain clean version history. Your team can use forks to:

Implement feature branches without cluttering the main repo
Test experimental changes
Keep personal customizations separate
Follow different development workflow paths

Microsoft teams use this approach extensively for Windows development.

Steps to Fork a Repository

maxresdefault What Is a Fork in GitHub? Learn Now

Using the GitHub Interface

Locate the repository to be forked.

Find the GitHub repository you want to fork. Navigate to its main page on GitHub.com. Popular repositories like React or TensorFlow get thousands of forks from developers worldwide.

Click the “Fork” button.

The Fork button sits in the top-right corner of any repository page. Clicking it starts the forking mechanism.

GitHub will ask where to create the fork if you belong to any organizations. Select your personal account for individual open source contributions or an organization for team projects.

Verify the newly created fork in your account.

After forking completes, you’ll land on your new fork’s page. Notice the indication below the repository name showing it’s forked from the original:

username/project forked from original-owner/project

Check your GitHub profile repositories list to confirm it’s there. Now you can start collaborative coding on this independent copy.

Using the Command Line

Install and configure GitHub CLI tools.

The GitHub CLI offers powerful command line options for working with forks:

# Install GitHub CLI on macOS
brew install gh

# Install on Windows
winget install GitHub.cli

# Install on Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install gh

After installation, set up your credentials with:

gh auth login

Log in to GitHub via the command line.

Follow the interactive prompts to connect your GitHub account to the CLI. You’ll authenticate through your browser or with a token.

This connects your local environment to your remote GitHub profile.

Use the gh repo fork command with options like –clone for local copies.

Create a fork and clone it in one command:

# Fork and clone in one step
gh repo fork original-owner/project --clone

# Just fork without cloning
gh repo fork original-owner/project

Advanced developers might add custom options:

# Fork to a specific location with a custom name
gh repo fork original-owner/project --clone --remote=true --dir=~/projects/custom-name

This approach integrates smoothly with existing Git workflow practices.

Configuring a Fork

Setting Up a Remote Repository

Add the upstream repository as a remote.

After forking and cloning locally, connect to the original (upstream repository) to track its changes:

# Check current remotes
git remote -v

# Add upstream remote
git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-owner/project.git

This creates a link between your local copy and the original repository. Major projects like Linux kernel and Node.js rely on this remote repository structure.

Verify the configuration using git remote -v.

Confirm your setup with:

git remote -v

You should see four entries:

origin (fetch) – Your fork
origin (push) – Your fork
upstream (fetch) – Original repository
upstream (push) – Original repository

This configuration enables effective version control and code integration with the original project.

Syncing Forked and Upstream Repositories

Fetch changes from the upstream repository.

Keep your fork current by regularly pulling changes from the original project:

# Get latest changes from upstream
git fetch upstream

This downloads all new commits and branches without merging them yet. Projects like Vue.js and Angular use this technique for fork synchronization.

Merge changes into the local forked repository.

Apply the upstream changes to your local branch:

# Switch to your main branch
git checkout main

# Merge upstream changes
git merge upstream/main

Resolve any merge conflicts that occur. Visual tools like GitHub Desktop can help with this process.

Push updates to your GitHub fork.

Finally, update your remote repository on GitHub:

git push origin main

This three-step process (fetch, merge, push) keeps your fork aligned with the original project, making future pull requests much cleaner.

Practical Applications of Forking

Open Source Contributions

Making changes and proposing them through pull requests.

Contributing to open source projects becomes straightforward with forks. Look at popular projects like React, TensorFlow, or Linux kernel:

Fork the repository
Clone it locally
Create a feature branch
Make your changes
Push to your fork
Submit a pull request

# Create a topic branch for your contribution
git checkout -b fix-login-bug

# After making changes
git commit -am "Fix login validation issue #1234"
git push origin fix-login-bug

Then use the GitHub interface to create your pull request from the branch.

Collaborating with maintainers to refine contributions.

After submitting a pull request, project maintainers review your code. This code review process often involves:

Technical feedback
Style suggestions
Documentation requests
Test coverage requirements

Top projects like VS Code and Node.js use this collaboration model with thousands of contributors. The Git workflow creates a structured approach to quality control.

Team Development Workflows

Isolating feature development from the main repository.

Development teams use forks to separate feature work:

fork-workflow What Is a Fork in GitHub? Learn Now

Companies like Microsoft use this model where team members:

Fork the main project
Develop features independently
Submit changes through the internal pull request system
Get approvals from designated reviewers

This creates clear ownership and accountability.

Reducing risk of unintended changes in shared codebases.

Forks provide safety guards for teams sharing code. Each developer works in their isolated environment with:

Independent testing
Freedom to experiment
No risk to production code
Clear separation of concerns

The GitHub Flow was designed around this concept, making it ideal for continuous integration environments.

Forking Best Practices

Managing Forked Repositories

Keep your fork updated with the upstream repository.

Regularly sync with the upstream repository to avoid drift:

# Fetch upstream changes
git fetch upstream

# Merge them into your local main branch
git checkout main
git merge upstream/main

# Update your fork on GitHub
git push origin main

Regular fork synchronization prevents painful merge conflicts later.

Document significant changes for transparency.

Clear documentation helps both you and potential contributors:

Update README.md files when adding features
Create CHANGELOG entries
Write detailed commit messages
Add code comments for complex sections

Projects like Angular and React enforce these documentation standards across all forks.

Collaboration Etiquette

Communicate clearly with repository maintainers.

Effective communication with project maintainers requires:

Clear descriptions in pull requests
Responsive follow-up to feedback
Using issue tracking to reference bug fixes
Respecting project roadmaps

Repository owners manage hundreds of contributions. Your clarity helps them process your work efficiently.

Follow guidelines for contributions and pull requests.

Each project has contribution guidelines. Find them in:

CONTRIBUTING.md files
Community guidelines
Code of conduct documents
Style guides

Following these guidelines shows respect for the project’s standards and increases your changes of getting your code changes accepted. GitHub Flow depends on this structured approach to maintain project quality.

FAQ on Forks In GitHub

How do I fork a repository on GitHub?

Navigate to any GitHub repository and click the “Fork” button in the top-right corner.

The process takes seconds and immediately creates your copy with all branches and history intact.

What should I do after forking a repository?

After forking, you typically:

Clone your fork locally
Add the original as an upstream remote
Create a new branch for your changes
Make your edits
Push to your fork
Submit a pull request

This workflow supports the GitHub Flow model used by thousands of projects.

When should I fork a repository?

Fork when you need to:

Contribute to an open source project
Experiment with changes without affecting the original
Build on someone else’s work
Submit improvements via pull requests
Fix bugs in third-party code

Companies like Facebook and Google use forks extensively for their open source contributions.

What’s the difference between forking and cloning?

Forking happens on GitHub’s servers, creating a new remote repository under your account.

Cloning downloads a repository to your local machine using Git commands.

Most effective development workflows combine both:

# First fork on GitHub, then:
git clone https://github.com/your-username/forked-repo.git

How do I keep my forked repository up to date?

Use these commands to sync with the upstream repository:

# Add the original repo as upstream (one-time setup)
git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-owner/original-repo.git

# Get changes
git fetch upstream

# Merge them to your local main branch
git checkout main
git merge upstream/main

# Update your GitHub fork
git push origin main

Regular synchronization prevents your fork from becoming outdated.

Can others see my forked repository?

Yes, forks are public by default (unless the original was private). Your fork appears on your profile and in the network graph of the original repository.

This visibility helps project maintainers track contributions and improvements.

What happens if the original repository gets deleted?

If the upstream repository is deleted, your fork remains intact. However:

You lose the connection to the original
You can’t submit pull requests to it anymore
Your fork becomes the new primary copy

This is how many projects survive when original maintainers move on.

Can I fork a private repository?

You can fork private repositories if you have access to them. The fork inherits the privacy settings of the original.

Organizations often use private forks for internal development before making changes public.

Can I have multiple forks of the same repository?

GitHub limits you to one fork of a repository per account. However, you can:

Create multiple branches in your single fork
Fork to different organizations you belong to
Use different GitHub accounts if absolutely necessary

Most development workflows work fine with a single fork and multiple branches.

Conclusion

Understanding what is a fork in GitHub transforms how you collaborate on code. The forking feature bridges individual work with community efforts in the distributed version control ecosystem.

Forks provide:

Safe spaces to experiment with code
Pathways to contribute to major projects
Tools for managing team development workflow
Methods to track and integrate changes

Projects like Linux, Android, and TensorFlow grow through thousands of forks and pull requests from contributors worldwide.

The process creates a structured approach: fork a repository, create changes, and submit them back through a pull request. This pattern helps manage everything from small bug fixes to major feature additions.

GitHub’s forking features support both individual developers and large organizations like Microsoft. The functionality handles version history preservation, branch management, and code integration smoothly.

Starting with forks helps you join the collaborative coding community. Even simple contributions follow this pattern, making it a fundamental skill for modern software development.

Author
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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan is a seasoned web designer and tech strategist, with a keen eye on emerging industry trends.

With over a decade in the tech field, Bogdan blends technical expertise with insights on business innovation in technology.

A regular contributor to TMS Outsource's blog, where you'll find sharp analyses on software development, tech business strategies, and global tech dynamics.