chapter4.txt

Version control is a system that helps developers manage changes to source code over time. It allows multiple people to collaborate on projects, track modifications, and revert to earlier versions if needed. Tools like Git, Subversion, and Mercurial record every change, making it easier to identify who made updates and why. Version control supports branching and merging, enabling experimentation without disrupting the main codebase. It also prevents conflicts when multiple contributors work simultaneously. By maintaining a history of changes, version control ensures transparency, accountability, and efficiency in software development, making it an essential practice for modern programming teams.