Writing good commit messages is crucial for maintaining a clear and understandable project history. Well-written commit messages help collaborators understand the changes made, the reasons behind them, and facilitate easier debugging and code reviews. This section will guide you through the best practices for writing effective commit messages.

1. Clarity: Clear commit messages make it easier to understand what changes were made and why.
2. History Tracking: They provide a useful history of changes, which is invaluable for debugging and understanding the evolution of the project.
3. Collaboration: Good commit messages improve collaboration by making it easier for team members to follow the project's progress.
4. Code Reviews: They facilitate code reviews by providing context for the changes.

A well-structured commit message typically consists of three parts:

1. Header: A brief summary of the changes (50 characters or less).
2. Body: A detailed explanation of the changes, if necessary (wrapped at 72 characters).
3. Footer: Any additional information, such as issue tracking IDs or breaking changes.

1. Use the Imperative Mood: Write the commit message as if you are giving an order. For example, use "Fix bug" instead of "Fixed bug" or "Fixes bug".
2. Be Concise but Descriptive: The header should be brief but descriptive enough to understand the change.
3. Separate Subject from Body: Use a blank line to separate the header from the body.
4. Explain the Why, Not Just the What: The body should explain why the change was made, not just what was changed.
5. Use Bullet Points for Multiple Changes: If the commit includes multiple changes, use bullet points to list them in the body.
6. Reference Issues and Pull Requests: Include references to relevant issues or pull requests in the footer.

1. Vague Messages: Avoid messages like "Update code" or "Fix bug". Be specific about what was updated or fixed.
2. Too Long Headers: Keep the header to 50 characters or less. If more detail is needed, use the body.
3. Skipping the Body: For complex changes, always include a body to explain the details.
4. Not Using the Imperative Mood: Avoid past tense or descriptive phrases in the header.

Scenario: You have just fixed a bug in the user registration form where the email validation was not working correctly. Write a commit message for this change.

Solution:

Scenario: Improve the following commit message:

Solution:

Writing good commit messages is an essential skill for any developer. By following best practices and avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure that your commit messages are clear, informative, and helpful for both current and future collaborators. Remember to use the imperative mood, be concise yet descriptive, and provide context for your changes. This will greatly enhance the quality of your project's history and facilitate better collaboration and code reviews.