How to create pull requests in GitHub

Friday, January 2, 2026

#git #github #pull-request #collaboration

Pull requests facilitate code review, discussion, and controlled integration of changes in collaborative software development workflows. As the creator of CoreUI, a widely used open-source UI library, I’ve created and reviewed thousands of pull requests throughout my 25 years of development experience. The most effective approach is pushing feature branches to GitHub and creating pull requests through the web interface with clear descriptions. This method enables comprehensive code review, automated testing, and maintains clean project history through structured merge workflows.

Push feature branch to remote, create pull request via GitHub interface with descriptive title and details.

# Create and checkout feature branch
git checkout -b feature/add-user-authentication

# Make changes and commit
git add .
git commit -m "Add JWT authentication for user login"

# Push branch to remote
git push -u origin feature/add-user-authentication

# The output will include a URL to create PR directly:
# remote: Create a pull request for 'feature/add-user-authentication' on GitHub by visiting:
# remote:   https://github.com/username/repo/pull/new/feature/add-user-authentication

After pushing, navigate to GitHub repository and:

Click “Compare & pull request” button that appears
Select base branch (usually main or master) and compare branch (your feature branch)
Add descriptive title: “Add JWT authentication for user login”
Write detailed description:
- What changes were made
- Why these changes are necessary
- How to test the changes
- Related issues (e.g., “Closes #123”)
Request reviewers from your team
Add labels (feature, enhancement, bug fix, etc.)
Link related issues
Click “Create pull request”

Alternatively, use GitHub CLI:

# Create PR with title and body
gh pr create --title "Add JWT authentication" --body "Implements JWT-based authentication system with refresh tokens. Closes #123"

# Create PR interactively
gh pr create

# Create PR with specific base branch
gh pr create --base main --head feature/add-user-authentication

Here the feature branch isolates your changes from the main codebase until reviewed. Pushing with -u flag sets upstream tracking for easier future pushes. The PR description provides context helping reviewers understand changes quickly. Linking issues with “Closes #123” automatically closes related issues when PR merges. GitHub CLI streamlines PR creation from command line without switching to browser. Requesting reviewers ensures appropriate team members evaluate changes before merging.

Best Practice Note:

This is the pull request workflow we use in CoreUI open-source development for maintaining code quality and collaborative review. Keep PRs focused on single features or fixes for easier review, write comprehensive descriptions with screenshots for UI changes, enable “Allow edits from maintainers” for open-source contributions, and use draft PRs for work-in-progress to gather early feedback before formal review.

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About the Author

Łukasz Holeczek, Founder of CoreUI, is a seasoned Fullstack Developer and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. As the lead developer for all JavaScript, React.js, and Vue.js products at CoreUI, they specialize in creating open-source solutions that empower developers to build better and more accessible user interfaces.

With expertise in TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js, and modern frameworks like React.js, Vue.js, and Next.js, Łukasz combines technical mastery with a passion for UI/UX design and accessibility. CoreUI’s mission is to provide developers with tools that enhance productivity while adhering to accessibility standards.

Łukasz shares its extensive knowledge through a blog with technical software development articles. It also advises enterprise companies on building solutions from A to Z. Through CoreUI, it offers professional services, technical support, and open-core products that help developers and businesses achieve their goals.

Learn more about CoreUI’s solutions and see how your business can benefit from working with us.