"Version control" refers to a systematic process for managing and tracking changes to documents, files, or software code over time. This process allows for managing different versions of a document or code, tracking changes, resolving conflicts, and maintaining a history of developments.
Typical functions of software in the field of "version control" include:
Version management: The software stores different versions of a file or document and allows users to switch between versions or restore older versions.
Change tracking: The software records all changes made to a file or document and allows users to see who made which changes and when.
Collaboration: The software supports collaboration among multiple users on a document or project by coordinating changes and resolving conflicts during simultaneous editing.
Branch management: The ability to create different branches or development branches to track parallel development streams and develop changes separately before merging them together.
Version tagging: The software allows users to mark certain versions as important milestones or assign them version numbers.