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description: 'Learn how to use and administer GitLab, the most scalable Git-based fully integrated platform for software development.'
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# GitLab Docs
Welcome to [GitLab ](https://about.gitlab.com/ ) documentation.
Here you can access the complete documentation for GitLab, the single application for the
[entire DevOps lifecycle ](#the-entire-devops-lifecycle ).
## Overview
No matter how you use GitLab, we have documentation for you.
| Essential documentation | Essential documentation |
|:------------------------|:------------------------|
| [**User documentation** ](user/index.md )< br > Discover features and concepts for GitLab users. | [**Administrator documentation** ](administration/index.md )< br /> Everything GitLab self-managed administrators need to know. |
| [**Contributing to GitLab** ](#contributing-to-gitlab )< br /> At GitLab, everyone can contribute! | [**New to Git and GitLab?** ](#new-to-git-and-gitlab )< br /> We have the resources to get you started. |
| [**Build an integration with GitLab** ](#build-an-integration-with-gitlab )< br /> Consult our integration documentation. | [**Coming to GitLab from another platform?** ](#coming-to-gitlab-from-another-platform )< br /> Consult our guides. |
| [**Install GitLab** ](https://about.gitlab.com/install/ )< br /> Installation options for different platforms. | [**Customers** ](subscriptions/index.md )< br /> Information for new and existing customers. |
| [**Update GitLab** ](update/index.md )< br /> Update your GitLab self-managed instance to the latest version. | [**Reference Architectures** ](administration/reference_architectures/index.md )< br /> GitLab reference architectures. |
| [**GitLab releases** ](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/ )< br /> What's new in GitLab. | |
## Popular topics
Have a look at some of our most popular topics:
| Popular topic | Description |
|:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|:------------|
| [Two-factor authentication ](user/profile/account/two_factor_authentication.md ) | Improve the security of your GitLab account. |
| [GitLab groups ](user/group/index.md ) | Manage projects together. |
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| [Keyword reference for the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file ](ci/yaml/index.md ) | Available configuration options for `.gitlab-ci.yml` files. |
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| [Activate GitLab EE with a license ](user/admin_area/license.md ) | Activate GitLab Enterprise Edition functionality with a license. |
| [Back up and restore GitLab ](raketasks/backup_restore.md ) | Rake tasks for backing up and restoring GitLab self-managed instances. |
| [GitLab release and maintenance policy ](policy/maintenance.md ) | Policies for version naming and cadence, and also upgrade recommendations. |
| [Elasticsearch integration ](integration/elasticsearch.md ) | Integrate Elasticsearch with GitLab to enable advanced searching. |
| [Omnibus GitLab database settings ](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/settings/database.html ) | Database settings for Omnibus GitLab self-managed instances. |
| [Omnibus GitLab NGINX settings ](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/settings/nginx.html ) | NGINX settings for Omnibus GitLab self-managed instances. |
| [Omnibus GitLab SSL configuration ](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/settings/ssl.html ) | SSL settings for Omnibus GitLab self-managed instances. |
| [GitLab.com settings ](user/gitlab_com/index.md ) | Settings used for GitLab.com. |
## The entire DevOps lifecycle
GitLab is the first single application for software development, security,
and operations that enables [Concurrent DevOps ](https://about.gitlab.com/topics/concurrent-devops/ ).
GitLab makes the software lifecycle faster and radically improves the speed of business.
GitLab provides solutions for [each of the stages of the DevOps lifecycle ](https://about.gitlab.com/stages-devops-lifecycle/ ).
## New to Git and GitLab?
Working with new systems can be daunting.
We have the following documentation to rapidly uplift your GitLab knowledge:
| Topic | Description |
|:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|:------------|
| [GitLab basics guides ](gitlab-basics/index.md ) | Start working on the command line and with GitLab. |
| [What is GitLab Flow? ](https://about.gitlab.com/topics/version-control/what-is-gitlab-flow/ ) | Enhance your workflow with the best of GitLab Flow. |
| [Get started with GitLab CI/CD ](ci/quick_start/index.md ) | Quickly implement GitLab CI/CD. |
| [Auto DevOps ](topics/autodevops/index.md ) | Learn more about Auto DevOps in GitLab. |
| [GitLab Markdown ](user/markdown.md ) | Advanced formatting system (GitLab Flavored Markdown). |
### User account
Learn more about GitLab account management:
| Topic | Description |
|:-----------------------------------------------------------|:------------|
| [User account ](user/profile/index.md ) | Manage your account. |
| [Authentication ](topics/authentication/index.md ) | Account security with two-factor authentication, set up your SSH keys, and deploy keys for secure access to your projects. |
| [User settings ](user/profile/index.md#access-your-user-settings ) | Manage your user settings, two factor authentication, and more. |
| [User permissions ](user/permissions.md ) | Learn what each role in a project can do. |
### Git and GitLab
Learn more about using Git, and using Git with GitLab:
| Topic | Description |
|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|:------------|
| [Git ](topics/git/index.md ) | Getting started with Git, branching strategies, Git LFS, and advanced use. |
| [Git cheat sheet ](https://about.gitlab.com/images/press/git-cheat-sheet.pdf ) | Download a PDF describing the most used Git operations. |
| [GitLab Flow ](topics/gitlab_flow.md ) | Explore the best of Git with the GitLab Flow strategy. |
## Coming to GitLab from another platform
If you are coming to GitLab from another platform, the following information is useful:
| Topic | Description |
|:----------------------------------------------------|:------------|
| [Importing to GitLab ](user/project/import/index.md ) | Import your projects from GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab.com, FogBugz, and SVN into GitLab. |
| [Migrating from SVN ](user/project/import/svn.md ) | Convert a SVN repository to Git and GitLab. |
## Build an integration with GitLab
There are many ways to integrate with GitLab, including:
| Topic | Description |
|:-------------------------------------------|:------------|
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| [GitLab REST API ](api/index.md ) | Integrate with GitLab using our REST API. |
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| [GitLab GraphQL API ](api/graphql/index.md ) | Integrate with GitLab using our GraphQL API. |
| [Integrations ](integration/index.md ) | Integrations with third-party products. |
## Contributing to GitLab
GitLab Community Edition is [open source ](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/ )
and GitLab Enterprise Edition is [open-core ](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/ ).
Learn how to contribute to GitLab with the following resources:
| Topic | Description |
|:------------------------------------------------------------|:------------|
| [Development ](development/index.md ) | How to contribute to GitLab development. |
| [Legal ](legal/index.md ) | Contributor license agreements. |
| [Writing documentation ](development/documentation/index.md ) | How to contribute to GitLab Docs. |
