5 min read
In today’s fast-paced and highly collaborative tech environment, software is rarely built by a single developer working alone. Modern applications are developed by teams—sometimes dozens or even hundreds of engineers—contributing code simultaneously. To manage this complexity, teams rely on structured workflows and tools. One of the most important concepts in this workflow is the PR, also known as a Pull Request.
If you’ve ever wondered what is a PR in software development, what does PR stand for in programming, or how pull requests fit into real-world coding collaboration, this guide will give you a complete, beginner-friendly, and professional explanation.
In programming, PR stands for Pull Request.
A pull request is a request made by a developer to merge their code changes from one branch into another, usually into a shared or main branch of a repository. The pull request definition in software development centers around review, discussion, and approval before code becomes part of the main codebase.
Pull requests are a core feature of Git-based version control systems, including:
Although terminology may differ slightly, the underlying idea remains the same: safe, structured collaboration.
So, what is a PR in software development in practical terms?
A PR is a formal mechanism for proposing, reviewing, and integrating code changes. Instead of directly adding code to the main branch, developers submit their changes through a pull request. This allows other team members to review the code, suggest improvements, and approve the changes before they are merged.
In short, a PR is both:
It ensures that every code change is intentional, reviewed, and documented.
The term pull request can be misleading, especially for beginners. You’re not actually “pulling” code into your own branch. Instead, you are requesting that someone else (usually a maintainer or reviewer) pull your changes into the target branch.
So the pull request meaning is best understood as:
“Please review these changes and pull them into the main codebase if approved.”
Pull requests are not optional in professional development—they are foundational. Here’s why they matter so much.
Pull requests allow teams to maintain consistent coding standards. Reviewers can:
This makes long-term maintenance far easier.
A pull request creates a natural checkpoint for code review. This process helps:
A strong code review pull request culture significantly reduces production issues.
Pull requests enable collaboration across:
They provide a shared discussion space where feedback, questions, and decisions are documented.
Every PR shows:
This transparency is critical for large teams and regulated environments.
To truly understand pull requests, let’s break down how pull requests work in a typical Git-based workflow.
Developers usually create a new branch from the main branch for their work. This keeps the main branch stable and deployable.
Example:
feature/user-authentication
The developer writes code, tests it locally, and commits changes to their branch using Git.
The branch is pushed to platforms like GitHub or GitLab, making it available to others.
At this stage, the developer opens a pull request and provides:
This step formally starts the software development pull request workflow.
Other developers review the PR, leaving comments, suggestions, or approval. This is where collaboration truly happens.
If changes are requested, the developer updates the code. These updates automatically appear in the PR.
Once approved and all checks pass, the PR is merged into the target branch.
Git itself does not have pull requests built in. A Git pull request is a feature provided by platforms that host Git repositories.
So when people say Git pull request explained, they usually mean:
Git handles version control; platforms handle pull requests.
A pull request in GitHub is one of the most widely used implementations. GitHub PRs include:
GitHub also allows draft pull requests, which signal that work is still in progress.
In GitLab, pull requests are called Merge Requests, leading to frequent questions about PR vs merge request.
| Pull Request | Merge Request |
|---|---|
| GitHub, Bitbucket | GitLab |
| Same concept | Same concept |
| Different name | Different name |
The pull request process in GitLab includes similar features:
Another common comparison is pull request vs patch.
Patches are static and lack discussion tools, while pull requests include:
A commit is a snapshot of changes saved to a repository. A PR is a request that groups commits together for review.
Modern teams overwhelmingly prefer pull requests.
Pull requests are the backbone of open-source collaboration. Contributors:
Maintainers review and decide whether to merge the contribution. This system has enabled massive projects like Linux, React, and Python to scale.
Understanding pull requests is a core developer skill. Hiring managers often evaluate:
Strong PR habits show professionalism and teamwork.
So, what is a PR in software development? It’s not just a technical step—it’s a discipline. Pull requests bring structure, accountability, and collaboration into the development process.
From understanding the pull request meaning to mastering pull request best practices, developers who use PRs effectively write better code, work better with teams, and build more reliable software.
Whether you’re working on a small project, a startup product, or a global open-source platform, pull requests are the foundation of modern software development.
