What is version control?

Version control is a system that records changes to files or sets of files over time, allowing for collaboration and historical reference. This functionality is crucial in various fields such as software development, document management, and content creation. Version control systems enable multiple users to work on a project simultaneously without overwriting each other’s contributions, as changes can be tracked, merged, and reverted as necessary.

Historical reference is a key aspect; it allows users to review the history of changes, who made them, and why, which enhances accountability and helps in troubleshooting or understanding the evolution of a project. This is especially important when a project requires collaboration among numerous developers who might be working on different features or bug fixes concurrently. By using version control, teams can maintain an organized and efficient workflow while ensuring that previous versions of their work can be restored if needed.

Although the other options mention related concepts, they do not encompass the full scope of what version control is. Compressing files, restoring software versions, or error handling are all distinct practices within the broader field of computer science but don't capture the essence of version control as a collaborative and historical tracking tool.