title: Difference between git pull . master vs git merge master
body: <p>Having no remote repository, just one local repository with two branches.</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ git branch -a
    master
  * devel
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Are following commands <strong>in this context</strong> the same/synonym?</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ git pull . master
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ git merge master
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE:</strong></p>
  
  <p><code>$ git help pull</code> gives following information</p>
  
  <pre><code>SYNOPSIS
     git pull &lt;options&gt; &lt;repository&gt; &lt;refspec&gt;...
  
  DESCRIPTION
     ...
     Note that you can use . (current directory) as the &lt;repository&gt; to pull
     from the local repository — this is useful when merging local branches
     into the current branch.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I actually don't understand why this is useful as mentioned in this manpage.</p>