What are Tags in Git?

In Git, a tag is a lightweight reference that marks a specific commit. It's commonly used to mark a release or a version of your software project. Unlike branch HEAD pointers, tags remain fixed and do not move even if more commits are added to the branch.

Creating Lightweight Tags

A lightweight tag does not have extra information apart from its name and the commit hash that it references. You can create a tag using the `git tag` command. For example, you can create a new tag named 'v1.0.0' by running `git tag v1.0.0`.

Understanding Tags in Git

To understand what a tag does in Git, you need to first understand the roles played by commits and branches. A commit captures the code changes of your software project at a specific time. A branch has a movable pointer (HEAD pointer) that points to the latest commit made on that branch.

Checking Out a Git Tag from Remote

To check out a git tag from remote, you can use the `git checkout` command followed by the name of the tag. For example, to check out the 'v1.0.0' tag, you would run `git checkout v1.0.0`. This will switch your local branch to the specified commit.

Best Practices for Deleting Tags

It's recommended that you always communicate and perform test runs before deleting a tag to avoid a system breakdown, especially for critical systems. You can easily delete a tag on your local git repository using the `git tag -d` command followed by the name of the tag.

In this article, we have discussed what tags are in Git, the role they play in release management, how to create and check out tags, and best practices for deleting them. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and successful release process that includes reviewing and identifying old release tags that are no longer relevant and need to be deleted.

In conclusion, tags are an essential part of Git's version control system. They allow you to mark specific versions of your software project and provide a way to track releases. By understanding how to create, check out, and delete tags, you can ensure a successful release process and maintain a clean and organized repository.

Git checkout tag from remote