Remote, Fetch, Pull, Push, Upstream

What Is origin?

origin is simply a name assigned to a remote repository.

origin → https://github.com/.../project.git

You can configure multiple remote names.

git remote add backup ...
git remote add upstream ...
git remote -v

The essence of fetch:

Bring the remote’s latest Git objects and ref information into the local repository.

flowchart LR
    R[GitHub<br/>stable → D] -->|git fetch origin| L[Local Repository<br/>origin/stable → D]
    L --> B[local stable may still be at C]

In other words:

fetch
= Download objects
+ Create/update remote-tracking refs

Local branches do not move automatically, however.

stable
= Local Branch

origin/stable
= The position of origin’s stable known locally at the most recent fetch

Conceptually, pull is:

fetch
+
Integrate into the current branch

Depending on configuration, integration may use merge or rebase.

For a baseline branch such as stable, avoid unnecessary merge commits with:

git pull --ff-only

This establishes a fast-forward-only policy for the operation.

Push sends local commits/refs to the remote.

First push:

git push -u origin feature/camera

-u sets the upstream relationship that determines which remote branch the local branch tracks afterward.

This is common in a fork workflow.

origin   → Your fork
upstream → Official source

This is the target that a local branch tracks.

local feature/camera
      ↓ tracks
origin/feature/camera

Do not confuse these two meanings.

Downstream describes a relationship rather than naming a core Git setting.

Official source → Fork → Feature Branch
upstream           downstream

git fetch origin
git switch --track origin/feature/camera

This is possible.

However, if two people push to the same branch concurrently, non-fast-forward conflicts occur frequently.

It is generally easier to manage separate branches for each person and integrate them through PRs.