Understanding the difference between a pull request (PR) and a merge request (MR) can initially be confusing. While they seem similar, there are nuances depending on the platform used. This guide explains these terms clearly and highlights their similarities and differences. For more on code review practices, check out our guide: improving collaboration in code review processes.
What is a pull request?
A pull request (PR) is a way for developers to propose code changes to a project, commonly used on platforms like GitHub, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps.
When you open a PR, you're asking the project maintainers to "pull" your changes into their codebase. Typically, you:
- Fork or branch the repository.
- Commit changes to your branch.
- Push changes to the repository.
- Create a pull request via the web interface or CLI.
The PR interface displays the differences between your changes and the target branch, enabling discussions, code reviews, and further commits before merging. For more detailed information about GitHub's code review process, see our guide on understanding code review in GitHub.
What is a merge request?
A merge request (MR) is GitLab's equivalent to GitHub's pull request. GitLab uses "merge request" because it emphasizes merging changes into another branch within the same repository.
The MR workflow in GitLab includes:
- Creating a feature branch from the main repository.
- Pushing the branch to GitLab.
- Opening a merge request through GitLab's interface.
The MR facilitates code reviews, threaded discussions, and integrated CI/CD pipeline testing. Like PRs, MRs are merged once all discussions and tests pass successfully. To learn more about GitLab's code review capabilities, check out our guide on enhancing GitLab code reviews with AI tools.
Pull request vs merge request: comparison
Although the purpose of PRs and MRs is nearly identical, there are some subtle differences:
| Aspect | Pull Request (PR) | Merge Request (MR) |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | GitHub, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps | GitLab |
| Terminology origin | Requesting maintainers to "pull" changes in | Emphasizes merging changes |
| Workflow | Often involves forks or branches | Primarily branches within the same repo |
| Common use-case | Open-source collaboration, forks | Internal team projects, single repository |
| CI/CD integration | Via GitHub Actions, Bitbucket pipelines | Integrated GitLab CI |
In practical terms, a Git PR vs MR comparison reveals that both serve collaboration and code quality assurance, with workflows, approvals, and CI/CD checks in common. The naming difference largely reflects historical platform choices rather than fundamental functionality. For a comprehensive comparison of these platforms, see our detailed guide on GitHub vs GitLab.
Examples of PR and MR workflows
Here's a simplified example of each workflow:
GitHub PR:
- Fork/branch a repo
- Commit and push changes
- Create PR on GitHub, including a clear title and description
- Review and collaborate through comments
- Merge changes once approved
GitLab MR:
- Create branch within the main repository
- Push branch to GitLab
- Open MR on GitLab with descriptive title and details
- Collaborate through comments and CI tests
- Merge changes upon approval
For more insights into effective code review practices, check out our guide on good code review etiquette.
Enhancing PRs and MRs with AI
Writing clear, descriptive PR/MR titles and descriptions is crucial but can be challenging. Tools like Graphite now provide AI-generated PR titles and descriptions. Graphite analyzes your changes and commits, automatically generating clear, structured summaries. Developers can review and adjust these AI-generated descriptions, saving time and ensuring clarity.
Developers can refine this further, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
Conclusion
Ultimately, "pull request" vs "merge request" is mostly about naming preferences influenced by platform conventions:
- Both enable robust code collaboration and quality assurance.
- PRs are popularized by GitHub and Bitbucket, emphasizing pulling changes from external forks or branches.
- MRs, used by GitLab, emphasize the merging action within the same repository.
Understanding these minor differences helps teams smoothly transition between platforms, optimizing collaboration irrespective of terminology.