How to Upload Code to GitHub: A Step-by-Step Guide

GitHub is the world’s most popular platform for hosting and sharing code. Whether you’re a solo developer or working on a team, uploading your code to GitHub ensures version control, collaboration, and backup of your projects.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to upload your code to GitHub—using both the command line and GitHub’s web interface.

Table of Contents

🧰 Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure:

You have a GitHub account: https://github.com
Git is installed on your machine: https://git-scm.com
You have a local project folder ready to upload

📦 Method 1: Upload Code Using Git Command Line

Step 1: Initialize Git in Your Project Folder

Navigate to your project directory in the terminal:

cd path/to/your/project

Initialize Git:

git init

Step 2: Add and Commit Files

Stage your files:

git add .

Commit them:

git commit -m "Initial commit"

Step 3: Create a New Repository on GitHub

Log in to GitHub.
Click the + icon in the top right > New repository.
Enter a name and choose visibility (Public/Private).
Do not initialize with a README (since we already have files locally).

Copy the repository URL (HTTPS or SSH).

Step 4: Link Your Local Repository to GitHub

git remote add origin https://github.com/yourusername/repo-name.git

Step 5: Push to GitHub

Push your local code to the remote GitHub repository:

git push -u origin master

Note: For newer Git versions, the default branch might be main instead of master.

🖱️ Method 2: Upload Code Using GitHub Website (Drag & Drop)

This is ideal for quick uploads of small projects or files.

Step 1: Create a New Repository

Go to GitHub > New Repository
Fill in the name and description
Initialize with a README (optional)

Step 2: Upload Files

Once the repository is created, click Add file > Upload files
Drag and drop your files, or select them using the file picker
Add a commit message
Click Commit changes

You’re done!

💡 Best Practices

Use .gitignore to exclude unnecessary files (e.g., node_modules, .env)
Commit regularly with meaningful messages
Use branches for features and bug fixes
Add a README.md to describe your project
Use tags or releases for versioning

🧪 Troubleshooting

Authentication errors? You may need to set up a Personal Access Token if using HTTPS.
Push rejected? Ensure the remote branch doesn’t already have conflicting commits.
Permission denied (SSH)? Check if your SSH key is added to GitHub.

✅ Conclusion

Uploading code to GitHub is a vital step in modern development workflows. Whether you’re using the command line or the GitHub web UI, the process is straightforward and ensures your code is accessible, version-controlled, and ready for collaboration.