Initializing a Repository with git init

The `git init` command is the first step to start tracking a project with Git. You use it to create a new, empty Git repository. You can run this command in two ways. First, you can navigate to an existing project directory in your terminal and simply run `git init`. This will create a hidden subdirectory named `.git` inside your project folder. This `.git` directory is where Git stores all the metadata and object database for your project, including the complete history of changes. Nothing in your project is tracked yet; `git init` just prepares the directory for version control. Second, you can create a new directory and initialize a repository inside it at the same time by running `git init <project-name>`. This command is the starting point for any new project you want to manage with Git. Once a repository is initialized, you can start adding files and committing your changes.