Skip to main content
When a new team member joins a project, providing access to the remote repository is essential. Cloning the repository using Git is the standard method to obtain a complete local copy of your project data.

​
How to Clone a Repository

To clone a repository, use the Git clone command followed by the SSH link of the remote repository. Below is the generic command format: 
$ git clone [ssh link]
For this guide, we focus on cloning a repository from GitHub.
When you visit a repository on GitHub, locate the prominent green “Clone” button. Clicking it reveals a flyout that contains the SSH link required for cloning.
After obtaining the SSH link, clone the repository locally by running: 
$ git clone [email protected]:account/remote-repo.git
Cloning into 'remote-repo'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 59, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (59/59), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (43/43), done.
remote: Total 2948 (delta 28), reused 18 (delta 6)
Receiving objects: 100% (2948/2948), 1.93 MiB | 2.53 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (1526/1526), done.
By default, Git creates a local folder with the same name as the remote repository. After cloning, switch to the newly created repository directory with the following command: 
$ cd remote-repo
To review the complete history of the repository, use the git log command. This command displays all commits, allowing you to understand the project’s evolution: 
$ git log
commit 67c833e3...ecb7df62f (HEAD -> origin/master)
Author: John Doe <john@doe>
Date:   Sun Jun 14 14:45:07 2020 -0700

    Added first story
The git log command is a useful tool not only for tracing the project history but also for identifying important changes made by your team.
With a cloned repository, you can now work locally and interact with the remote repository for seamless team collaboration. For more information on Git commands and efficient project collaboration, visit the Git Documentation.

Watch Video

Practice Lab