A Version Control System (VCS) is a software tool that tracks changes to a file or set of files over time, allowing developers to manage and collaborate on code and other files more efficiently. VCS automates the process of version control, keeping a complete history of code and other files, allowing developers to return to a previous version if needed.

There are three types of VCS: local, centralized, and distributed. Local VCS stores source files within a local system, centralized VCS stores changes in a single server, and distributed VCS involves cloning a Git repository.

Some key features of VCS include:

• Complete long-term change history: VCS tools keep a record of every change made by many individuals over the years, including the creation and deletion of files as well as edits to their contents. This history should also include the author, date, and written notes on the purpose of each change.

• Branching and merging: VCS tools allow team members to work concurrently on independent streams of changes by creating a "branch." This keeps multiple streams of work independent from each other while also providing the facility to merge that work back together, enabling developers to verify that the changes on each branch do not conflict.

• Collaboration: VCS enhances project development speed by providing efficient collaboration, leveraging the productivity, expediting product delivery, and skills of the employees through better communication and assistance.

VCS is widely used in software engineering and other fields to manage changes to computer programs, documents, large websites, or other collections of information.