Free Practice Questions for the Microsoft GitHub Administrator GH-900 Exam (2026 Updated)

In a Git repository, a file can be in one of the following three valid states:

Committed : The file is saved in the local repository. It is part of the permanent history of the project.

Modified : The file has been changed but not yet staged or committed. It is in the working directory.

Staged : The file has been marked to be included in the next commit. It is in the staging area, ready to be committed.

These states represent the typical lifecycle of a file as it moves through the process of being edited, reviewed, and saved in Git.

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Saved replies in GitHub are a feature that allows users to create and save templates of commonly used responses for issues and pull requests. This feature can significantly enhance productivity and ensure consistent communication.

Saved Replies Are Tied to a User ' s Personal Account:

Option A is correct because saved replies are specific to a user ' s GitHub account, meaning they are accessible to the user across all repositories they have access to.

Saved Replies Allow Reusable Responses:

Option C is correct because the primary purpose of saved replies is to allow users to create reusable responses for issues and pull requests, saving time and ensuring consistency.

Incorrect Options:

Option B is incorrect because saved replies are not allocated at the enterprise level; they are specific to individual user accounts.

Option D is incorrect because saved replies do not send auto notifications; they are manually inserted by the user when responding to issues or pull requests.

GitHub Flow is a simple, yet powerful, branching strategy that is widely used in modern software development. It emphasizes collaboration and flexibility.

GitHub Flow:

Option C is correct because GitHub Flow is a lightweight workflow designed for safe experimentation and collaboration. It involves creating branches for new features or fixes, opening pull requests for review, and merging changes back into the main branch after approval.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is incorrect because GitHub Flow uses a single main branch, not multiple primary branches.

Option B is incorrect because GitHub Flow is not specifically designed around releases; it is more focused on continuous development and integration.

Option D is incorrect because GitHub Flow is not strict or linear; it encourages branching and pull requests rather than direct changes on the main branch.

Linking an issue to a pull request connects planned or reported work with the code change intended to resolve it. In GitHub workflows, this relationship helps maintainers track which pull request addresses a specific issue. When a pull request is linked in a way that closes the issue, such as through supported closing keywords or the development relationship, GitHub can automatically close the issue after the pull request is merged. This improves traceability and reduces manual cleanup after work is completed. Linking does not approve the pull request, because approval depends on review permissions and branch protection settings. It also does not lock the issue or automatically add the pull request to a project board. The main benefit is connecting work items to code changes.

Assigning collaborators to an issue or pull request helps clarify responsibility and ownership. When multiple collaborators are assigned, GitHub does not limit responsibility to only the first assignee. Instead, all assigned users are associated with the work item and can receive notifications based on their notification settings. This is useful when several people share responsibility for investigation, implementation, review, or follow-up. Assignment does not automatically lock the issue or pull request, and it does not automatically change the item’s status to “In Progress.” Status tracking is usually handled through labels, Projects fields, or workflow automation. In GitHub collaboration workflows, assignees make it clear who is expected to work on or respond to an issue or pull request.

GitHub Enterprise Cloud with Enterprise Managed Users (EMU) integrates closely with an organization ' s identity provider (IdP), such as Azure Active Directory, to manage user accounts. The primary benefit of this setup is centralized control and streamlined management. It allows organizations to enforce policies, manage user permissions, and provision or deprovision accounts directly through their IdP, ensuring consistency and security across the organization. This approach is ideal for large enterprises that require tight control over their users and resources.

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When writing comments on GitHub, the text formatting toolbar helps users format Markdown without manually typing all Markdown syntax. One action available through this toolbar is adding a list, such as a bulleted list or numbered list. This makes issue comments, pull request discussions, and discussion replies easier to structure and read. The toolbar is focused on formatting written content, not repository management actions. Merging branches is handled through Git or pull request workflows. Assigning an issue is done through issue metadata and permissions, not through the formatting toolbar. Scheduling a pull request is not a standard action in the comment formatting toolbar. Therefore, the action connected to the toolbar is adding a list to the comment text.

InnerSource applies open source collaboration practices inside an organization while keeping the work internal. Its primary goal is to make company projects more visible to employees and reduce friction when teams contribute across boundaries. Instead of every team working in isolation, InnerSource encourages shared ownership, discoverable repositories, clear contribution guidelines, issues, pull requests, and code reviews. This helps employees reuse existing solutions, avoid duplicated work, and collaborate more efficiently. Unlike open source, InnerSource does not require making repositories public or accepting outside contributors. It also does not remove the need for pull requests; pull requests are often central to the contribution process. The key difference is that InnerSource focuses on internal collaboration using open source-style practices.

Two recommended ways to improve the discoverability of a repository on GitHub are:

B. Create a README file describing the repository: A well-written README file provides essential information about the project, such as what it does, how to use it, and how to contribute. This is often the first thing potential users or contributors will see, making it critical for discoverability.

D. Add topics to classify the repository: Adding topics to your repository helps classify it under specific categories, making it easier for others to find it through GitHub’s search and exploration features. Topics act like tags, helping to connect your project with users interested in similar subjects.

Registering a repository with GitHub search and adding labels are not applicable actions for improving discoverability in the broader sense.

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GitHub Secret Scanning helps protect repositories by detecting committed credentials and other sensitive values that should not be exposed in source code. SSH private keys are sensitive because they can allow unauthorized access to servers or repositories. API keys are also critical because they can grant access to external services, cloud platforms, or applications. Database connection strings may expose usernames, passwords, hosts, or database endpoints, making them dangerous if leaked. Secret Scanning is designed to identify these kinds of credential patterns and alert repository maintainers or security teams. Hardcoded email addresses are usually not treated as secrets, and code formatting issues are handled by linters or code quality tools, not Secret Scanning.

GitHub Desktop is a graphical interface that allows users to interact with GitHub repositories. It simplifies certain Git operations without the need for command-line usage.

GitHub Desktop Capabilities:

Option C is correct because GitHub Desktop allows users to add local repositories to their GitHub account, clone repositories from GitHub to their local machine, and manage repositories effectively.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is incorrect because GitHub Desktop does not support creating or managing issues directly; this is done through the GitHub web interface.

Option B is incorrect because reviewing and approving pull requests is also managed through the GitHub web interface.

Option D is incorrect because commenting on discussions is done on the GitHub platform, not through GitHub Desktop.

Option E is incorrect because GitHub Desktop does not integrate with office suite software.

GitHub Mobile is designed for reviewing, triaging, and staying connected to GitHub activity while away from a desktop environment. It supports managing notifications from GitHub.com, allowing users to triage and clear notifications directly from their mobile device. It also supports reviewing pull requests, including visual review scenarios such as comparing changed images. Another mobile feature is scheduling push notifications for custom hours, which helps users control when they receive GitHub alerts. GitHub Mobile is not intended to replace a full development workstation. Editing files in pull requests and interactively adding changes to a commit are development tasks better suited to GitHub.com, GitHub Desktop, Codespaces, or the Git command line. The mobile app focuses on lightweight collaboration and review workflows.

GitHub Copilot for Business offers several features that are tailored to the needs of organizations, providing more control, security, and support compared to the individual version.

Organization-wide Policy Management:

Option B is correct because Copilot for Business allows organizations to manage policies across their entire user base, providing control over how Copilot is used within the organization.

Blocking Suggestions Matching Public Code:

Option C is correct because Copilot for Business includes enhanced security features, such as blocking code suggestions that match public code to prevent inadvertent use of unlicensed code.

Support for Organization or Enterprise GitHub Accounts:

Option E is correct because Copilot for Business supports integration with GitHub Enterprise accounts, offering additional administrative controls and integration capabilities.

Incorrect Options:

Option A (multi-line function suggestions) is a feature available in both individual and business versions, so it does not differentiate the business offering.

Option D (VPN proxy support via self-signed certificates) is not a primary differentiator of Copilot for Business.

Option F (plugs directly into the editor) is true for both individual and business versions, so it is not unique to Copilot for Business.

In Git, a branch is a fundamental concept that represents an independent line of development within a project. Here ' s a more detailed explanation:

Branch in Git:

Option C is correct because a branch in Git is essentially a separate, isolated copy of the project ' s codebase where you can make changes without affecting the main codebase. Branches allow developers to work on features, fixes, or experiments in parallel to the main project.

Other Options:

Option A is incorrect because while a branch does point to a specific commit (which represents a snapshot of the project), the description lacks the emphasis on the isolated and parallel development aspect that is critical to the understanding of branches.

Option B is incorrect because a branch is not a physical copy stored on disk; it is a logical reference within the repository.

Option D is incorrect because that description better fits the concept of a fork, not a branch. A fork is a new repository that is a copy of another repository, usually used to contribute back to the original ( " upstream " ) repository.

The following two-factor authentication (2FA) methods can be used to secure a GitHub account:

A. Authenticator app : You can use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Authy) to generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) for logging in.

C. GitHub mobile : The GitHub mobile app can also be used to receive 2FA codes, adding convenience for users who prefer to manage everything from their mobile devices.

D. Security keys : Physical security keys (such as YubiKeys) can be used as a strong form of 2FA, requiring physical access to the key to authenticate.

Security questions and Single sign-on (SSO) are not considered 2FA methods in the context of GitHub account security.

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As mentioned in the answer to Question no. 66, GitHub Actions workflows can reference actions from a variety of sources:

Any Public Repository:

Option A is correct. Actions can be sourced from any public GitHub repository.

The Same Repository as Your Workflow File:

Option B is correct. Actions within the same repository as the workflow file can be referenced directly.

A Published Docker Container Image on Docker Hub:

Option E is correct. Workflows can also use actions provided as Docker container images from Docker Hub.

Incorrect Options:

Option C and D are not relevant for directly referencing actions in workflows.

Innersource is a development practice where an organization adopts open-source development methodologies within its own internal environment. The primary goal of innersource is to break down silos and encourage collaboration across different teams within the organization.

Sharing Code Between Teams:

Option B is correct because innersource involves sharing code between teams within the organization, similar to how open-source communities share code across the public domain. This practice fosters collaboration, improves code quality, and allows for reuse of code, reducing duplication of efforts.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is incorrect because adopting open-source code into the organization is related to using open-source software, not specifically to innersource practices.

Option C is incorrect because removing open-source code from the organization is contrary to the principles of both open source and innersource.

Option D is incorrect because making all repositories publicly accessible refers to open source, not innersource. Innersource typically involves keeping code internal to the organization.

Pull requests are created to propose changes from one branch to another. These branches must be different; otherwise, there would be no changes to propose. Typically, pull requests are made from a feature or topic branch to a main branch (such as main or master ), allowing for code review and integration before the changes are merged.

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A pull request compares changes from one branch into another branch. The compare branch contains the proposed changes, while the base branch is the branch those changes are intended to merge into. A pull request also includes a description where the author explains what changed, why the change is needed, and any related issue or testing information. Repository visibility settings are not part of an individual pull request. Visibility settings belong to the repository configuration and determine whether the repository is public, private, or internal, depending on the account type and plan. Since pull requests focus on proposing, reviewing, discussing, and merging branch changes, the compare branch, base branch, and description are pull request components, while repository visibility settings are not.

When using GitHub Codespaces, you can customize several aspects of the development environment:

Shell: You can choose the default shell to be used in the Codespace, such as Bash, Zsh, or PowerShell.

Name: Users can customize the name of their Codespace for easier identification.

Default editor: You can choose which editor to use within the Codespace, such as Visual Studio Code or others that may be supported.

Branch protections and the operating system are not customizable for an individual Codespace within GitHub, making the options Shell, Name, and Default editor the correct answers.

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Git is a widely-used version control system that has several defining features:

Distributed Version Control:

Git is a distributed version control system, meaning that every developer has a full copy of the entire repository, including its history, on their local machine. This enables greater flexibility, as work can be done offline and each user has access to the full project history.

Open Source Software:

Git is open-source, meaning its source code is freely available for use, modification, and distribution. This fosters a large community of users and contributors who continuously improve the software.

Efficiency with Large Projects:

Git is designed to handle projects of any size with speed and efficiency. It can manage large codebases and many contributors without significant performance degradation, making it suitable for everything from small personal projects to large, complex software systems.

Incorrect Options:

Option B is incorrect because Git is not a sequential version control system, nor is it inherently tied to cloud-based services. GitHub, GitLab, and other platforms offer cloud hosting for Git repositories, but Git itself is a version control tool.

Option C is incorrect because Git is not limited to small projects; it is designed to scale efficiently, and the other features mentioned are only partial descriptions of Git ' s capabilities.

Option D is incorrect because Git is not a centralized version control system; it is distributed. Additionally, Git is open-source, not proprietary, and is used for projects of all sizes.

Forking a repository on GitHub is a common practice, especially when contributing to open-source projects or when you want to build on existing work. Here are the two main reasons for forking a repository:

B. To propose changes to the base repository :

One of the primary reasons for forking a repository is to make changes or improvements that you can later propose to the original repository (often called the " upstream " repository). This is typically done through a pull request. By forking the repository, you get your own copy of the project where you can freely experiment, make changes, and then propose those changes back to the original project.

C. To create a new repository based on an existing one :

Forking is also used to create a new repository that is a copy of an existing one. This allows you to work on the project independently of the original repository, effectively creating a new direction for the project or using it as a starting point for a different purpose. This is particularly useful for customization, experimentation, or when you want to build something different while still leveraging the existing codebase.

Explanation of Other Options :

A. To create an issue or open a discussion :

This is incorrect because creating an issue or opening a discussion can be done directly on the original repository without needing to fork it. Forking is unnecessary for these actions.

D. To create a new branch to develop a new feature :

While creating a new branch is related to development, it does not require a fork. Branches are typically created within the same repository to work on new features. Forking is used when you need an entirely separate copy of the repository.

Given this information, the correct answers are B and C .

The terms Alpha and Beta are often used in software development to describe different stages of feature testing and release.

Alpha Features:

Option A is correct because Alpha features are typically in the early stages of development and are not available to the public. They are usually tested internally or by a limited audience.

Incorrect Options:

Option B is incorrect because Alpha features are often undocumented as they are in the early development phase.

Option C is incorrect because Alpha and Beta features usually do not offer Service Level Agreements (SLAs) due to their experimental nature.

Option D is incorrect because Beta features might offer limited support, but it is not guaranteed, especially compared to fully released features.

Markdown is a lightweight markup language with plain-text formatting syntax. It is designed to be easy to write and read in its raw form, and it can be converted into HTML and other formats. Markdown is commonly used for formatting readme files, writing messages in online discussion forums, and creating rich text documents.

Markup Language:

Option A is correct because Markdown is indeed a markup language. It is not a programming language, scripting language, version control system, or containerization solution.

Incorrect Options:

Option B is incorrect because Markdown is not a programming language; it does not involve control structures or variables.

Option C is incorrect because Markdown is not used for scripting or automation.

Option D is incorrect because Markdown does not manage version control.

Option E is incorrect because Markdown is not related to containerization technologies like Docker.

On GitHub, certain actions automatically subscribe you to conversations so that you receive notifications about further activity in that thread.

Opening a Pull Request or Issue:

Option C is correct because when you open a pull request or issue, you are automatically subscribed to the conversation and will receive notifications for any updates.

Commenting on a Thread:

Option D is correct because commenting on an issue or pull request automatically subscribes you to that thread, ensuring you are notified of further comments or changes.

Being Assigned to an Issue or Pull Request:

Option E is correct because when you are assigned to an issue or pull request, you are automatically subscribed to notifications related to it.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is incorrect because pushing a commit to the default branch does not automatically subscribe you to conversations.

Option B is incorrect because being added as a repo admin does not automatically subscribe you to specific conversations unless you engage with them.

A GitHub repository serves as a collaborative space where developers can share and manage code files, track changes, and store revision history. It is much more than just a folder or simple tool; it is a comprehensive version control system that allows teams to collaborate effectively on codebases. Repositories enable developers to work together, manage contributions, review code, and maintain a complete history of every change made to the project.

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