FC0-U71 Applications and Software Practice Question
In Git, which action creates a snapshot of changes in the repository?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the confusion between commit, push, and merge — candidates pick push because it 'saves' changes, but push only uploads existing commits; the snapshot is created by commit.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Commit
In Git, a commit creates a snapshot of the staged changes in the repository, recording the state of the tracked files along with a message, author, and timestamp. Each commit is identified by a SHA-1 (or SHA-256) hash and forms a node in the repository's history graph. This is the fundamental operation that captures changes into version control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Merge
Why it's wrong here
Merge combines divergent branch histories into one, creating a merge commit rather than capturing the working tree's current state. It is tempting because it records repository changes, but the snapshot operation is commit, which saves staged changes as a new point in history.
- ✓
Commit
Why this is correct
A commit records the staged changes as a new snapshot in the repository's history, identified by a unique hash and linked to its parent commit. This captures the repository state at that point, which is exactly the snapshot action described.
- ✗
Push
Why it's wrong here
Push uploads local commits to a remote repository; it transfers existing snapshots rather than creating one. It is tempting because it updates the repository, but the snapshot itself is produced by commit, which records staged changes locally before any push occurs.
- ✗
Branch
Why it's wrong here
Branch creates a movable pointer to a commit, enabling parallel lines of development, but it stores no snapshot of changes. It is tempting because branches track work, yet the snapshot operation is commit, which captures the staged state as a new object in history.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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