How Pull Requests, Code Reviews, and Git Rebase Work in Professional Teams

Pull Requests (PRs) are a platform feature on GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket that allow developers to request review and approval before merging code into a main branch. Unlike direct commits, PRs trigger automated CI/CD checks such as unit tests, linting, and security scans, reducing the risk of bugs reaching production. Code reviews within PRs enable team members to comment on specific lines, suggest improvements, and document engineering decisions for future reference. A strong PR includes a clear description covering what changed, why it changed, and how it was tested, making collaboration more structured and transparent. Practices like using .gitignore, avoiding committed secrets, and choosing between git merge and git rebase further distinguish professional software development from personal projects.