GitHub Copilot

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant from GitHub that works inside popular editors and on github.com. It suggests code as you type, answers programming questions in a chat panel, and can make multi-step changes through an agent mode. Copilot suits individual developers, students and companies that already use GitHub for their code. Its main strength is breadth of integration: it runs in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs and other editors, and it connects to GitHub features such as pull requests and issues. Organizations get administrative controls and policy settings, which makes it a common choice for teams that need centralized management.

Key features of GitHub Copilot

• Inline code suggestions

  Offers single-line and multi-line completions as you type.

• Copilot Chat

  Answers coding questions and explains or rewrites selected code.

• Agent mode

  Works through multi-step tasks in the editor, editing files and running commands with approval.

• Coding agent

  Can be assigned a GitHub issue and opens a pull request with proposed changes.

• Pull request help

  Generates pull request summaries and review comments on github.com.

• Broad editor support

  Works in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs and other supported editors.

How to use GitHub Copilot

1. 01Sign in to your GitHub account and enable Copilot from your account settings.
2. 02Install the GitHub Copilot extension in your editor, such as VS Code or a JetBrains IDE.
3. 03Start typing code and press Tab to accept inline suggestions.
4. 04Open Copilot Chat to ask questions, explain code or request changes in agent mode.
5. 05Review every suggestion and run your tests before merging.

Use cases of GitHub Copilot

• Everyday code completion

  Reduce repetitive typing for boilerplate, tests and common patterns.

• Team development on GitHub

  Use Copilot across issues, pull requests and code review in one place.

• Learning to code

  Ask Copilot Chat to explain unfamiliar syntax or library calls.

• Delegating small tasks

  Assign routine fixes to the coding agent and review its pull request.

GitHub Copilot pros and cons

FAQ about GitHub Copilot