Difference: git pull vs. git fetch

I saw these two buttons the other day in VS (Git hooks up into VS directly!) and was wondering on the exact difference between git pull vs. fetch. And, I figured I would share!

git fetch will update remote-tracking branches under refs/remotes// and commits the target branch to your current branch locally. It will not merge into the current branch until you use merge. It allows you to do the process step by step and it great for keeping up to date on the repository and seeing the difference between conflicts (if there are any).

git pull is what syncs local branch with its remote version on Git. AND it will update other remote-tracking branches. git pull does a git fetch followed by a git merge (and always works onto the currently selected branch). This function will pull commits into EVERYTHING (including what you are currently working in) so it is best to stop and save before and do this only if you do not forsee any conflicts. It will merge the commits without letting you see and decide for yourself. There can be big conflicts using this, however it lets you skip the step to merge.

In my opinion, it is much safer to work with git fetch because it allows you to resolve conflicts on your own and have a hand step by step in controlling the changes to your work. git pull may save a step, but the risk of conflicts causing the code to break is too risky unless it is a very simple code or simply new files added where you know there will not be any conflicts raised.