---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/github-forks.md
title: "Forks on GitHub: what they are and how to create one"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "CC BY 4.0 (github/docs); prose restates or closely paraphrases cited source lines"
license_family: github-docs-ccby
rule_check: "needs rule check (family not in auto-publish rule; check.mjs auto-approves only usgov and arxiv-ccby)"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: GitHub Docs, Forks - GitHub Docs, CC BY 4.0 (github/docs); GitHub Docs, Fork a repository - GitHub Docs, CC BY 4.0 (github/docs)."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-04
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-04
as_of: 2026-11-04
confidence: medium
untested: "No code was run for this note; only the fetched documentation pages were read."
category: coding-references
topic_area: "code-ai-eng: GitHub"
tags: ['github', 'forks', 'collaboration']
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Forks - GitHub Docs"
    publisher: GitHub Docs
    url: https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/working-with-forks/about-forks
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (github/docs)"
  - id: S2
    title: "Fork a repository - GitHub Docs"
    publisher: GitHub Docs
    url: https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/working-with-forks/fork-a-repo
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "CC BY 4.0 (github/docs)"
---
# Forks on GitHub: what they are and how to create one

**Answer:** Forks are repositories that start as copies of another repository, called the upstream repository. A fork has its own settings and permissions but stays connected to the upstream repository. (S1)

## Forks versus branches

- A branch is part of one repository. A fork is a separate repository with its own settings and collaboration space. (S1)
- Forking a repository lets you propose changes to a project without affecting the upstream repository. (S2)
- When you view a forked repository on GitHub, the upstream repository is indicated below the name of the fork. (S1)

## Visibility and networks

- A fork's visibility depends on the upstream repository: public repository forks are public, and private repository forks are private. (S1)
- You cannot change the visibility of a fork by itself. (S1)
- A repository network includes the upstream repository, its forks, and forks of those forks, and repositories in the network share Git data. (S1)
- If you delete a fork, code contributions from that fork can remain accessible to the repository network. (S1)

## Creating a fork

- By default, forks are named the same as their upstream repositories. (S2)
- For many forking scenarios, such as contributing to open-source projects, you only need to copy the default branch. (S2)
- To create a fork of a repository from the command line, use the gh repo fork subcommand, and use the --org flag to create the fork in an organization. (S2)

## Claims
- id: C1
  claim: A fork starts as a copy of an upstream repository.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Forks are repositories that start as copies of another repository"
- id: C2
  claim: A fork is a separate repository, unlike a branch.
  source: S1
  evidence: "A fork is a separate repository with its own settings and collaboration space."
- id: C3
  claim: Fork visibility cannot be changed on its own.
  source: S1
  evidence: "You cannot change the visibility of a fork by itself."
- id: C4
  claim: The gh repo fork subcommand creates a fork.
  source: S2
  evidence: "To create a fork of a repository, use the gh repo fork subcommand."

## Sources
- [S1] Forks - GitHub Docs. GitHub Docs. https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/working-with-forks/about-forks . License: CC BY 4.0 (github/docs). Accessed 2026-11-04.
- [S2] Fork a repository - GitHub Docs. GitHub Docs. https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/working-with-forks/fork-a-repo . License: CC BY 4.0 (github/docs). Accessed 2026-11-04.

License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted).