Git is a distributed version control system for tracking changes in source code during software development. Created by Linus Torvalds in 2005, Git allows multiple developers to work on a project simultaneously without interfering with each other's changes. It supports branching, merging, and has a robust system for managing code history. Each developer has a local copy of the entire repository, including its full history, enabling offline work and robust backup. Git is widely used in software development for version control, collaboration, and maintaining a reliable history of project changes. Platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket build on Git to provide additional features such as code review, issue tracking, and CI/CD pipelines.