In version control systems, what does "commit" mean?

In version control systems, the term "commit" refers to the action of saving changes to the repository. When a developer makes changes to files in a project, they can create a commit that records these changes along with a message describing what was done. This commit becomes part of the project's history, allowing users to track changes over time, revert to previous states, and collaborate effectively. Each commit is essentially a snapshot of the current state of the project, providing accountability and a clear chronological log of the development process.

The other choices describe different actions within version control systems. For example, merging branches involves combining the histories of two different branches, while creating a new branch is about diverging a project into separate lines of development. Deleting previous versions involves removing past commits or branches, which is not the purpose of a commit. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the primary function of a commit: to save and record changes in the project’s repository.