| Integration Method | Combines the histories of two branches into one | Moves/โrebasesโ a branch onto the tip of another branch |
| Commit History | Keeps the original branch history and adds a new merge commit | Rewrites the commit history to create a linear sequence of commits |
| Conflict Resolution | Resolved once during the merge, potentially leading to a merge commit | Resolved for each commit thatโs being rebased, which can be repetitive |
| Use Case | Ideal for integrating completed features or fixes into the main branch | Used to clean up and simplify commit history before merging |
| History Visibility | Preserves the full history and chronological order of commits | Provides a cleaner, linear history but alters the chronological order |
| Risk Level | Lower risk of disrupting the repository history | Higher risk of complicating the history, especially if used on public branches |