Definition: In a Version Control System, files are checked in or out. Checking out a file means that the developer who has checked it out can make alterations to it then check those changes back in. Some VCS will lock the file to prevent any other developers making changes to it. An alternative approach is to allow multiple developers to check a file out but if changes have been made by several then flag that the file has been worked on by two or more developers and require that the differences be resolved before the file can be successfully checked back in.
Checking In creates a new version of the file and it's common to be able to view differences between any two versions using a Diff Utility.
Glossary:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZExamples:
Example: I checked my code back in to Subversion.
