pull request
A formal proposal submitted by a developer to merge a set of code changes from one branch into another within a version control system, typically accompanied by a description and peer review.
Full Definition
A pull request (PR) is a collaboration mechanism in platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket that allows a developer to notify teammates that a feature branch is ready for review. Reviewers can comment on specific lines, approve the changes, or request revisions before the code is merged. In documentation, 'pull request' is lowercased as a common noun; the abbreviation 'PR' is acceptable after first mention. Editors should not confuse a pull request with a 'merge request' (the GitLab equivalent term) or a 'push', which is the act of uploading commits to a remote repository.
Usage
Usage note: Lowercase as a common noun. Abbreviate as 'PR' after first mention. Note that GitLab uses 'merge request' for the same concept; editors should match terminology to the platform being documented.
In Context
- "Open a pull request against the main branch once all tests pass locally." — Contributor guide
- "The pull request was approved by two senior engineers before merging." — Engineering process documentation