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What is a pull request?
A pull request is a message asking the owner of a project to add your changes to it.
- Category GitHub & code
- Also called pull requests
- Updated 20 Oct 2026
Pull request, explained simply
You make changes in your own copy of a project. Then you open a pull request to propose them.
The owners and others can read the changes, comment, and ask for fixes. If they like it, they merge it in.
For example, you might fix a spelling mistake in a README and send it as a pull request.
On ITG Now, our tool guides may point to open pull requests as a sign a project has an active community.
Related terms
ForkCommitGitHubRepoOpen source
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Questions people ask about Pull request
Is a pull request free?
Yes. Opening a pull request on a public repo costs nothing.
Pull request vs fork: what is the difference?
A fork is your own copy. A pull request is the request to bring your changes back to the original.
Does a pull request change the project right away?
No. Nothing changes until the project owners approve and merge it.