What is a Git tag, and how do you use it for releases?

A Git tag marks specific points in a repository’s history — usually to label release versions

(like v1.0, v2.1, etc.). It’s like a snapshot that says, “this commit is stable and ready to

release.”

Types of tags:

• Lightweight tag: just a name for a commit.
• Annotated tag: includes metadata like the tagger’s name, date, and message.

Commands:

git tag -a v1.0 -m "Version 1.0 release"

git push origin v1.0

Real-world example:

fter testing your project, you tag the commit representing your first release with v1.0. This

helps other developers or CI/CD pipelines identify which version is live.