About GitHub "Fork" option

Question

I am newbie in GitHub. I wonder why the option "Fork" is there when I have the option of cloning others' project and make my own repository on GitHub to extend it?

Answer 1

In addition to the other answers, it should be mentioned that Github allows you to easily sync new changes (such as bug fixes) from the repo you originally cloned from. The fork button is just a quicker way of doing many existing git features. Sync fork button on Github

Answer 2

Yes, you are right, you can clone another repo and do any desired stuff.
But after that you need merge your updates into original repo (share your improvements with whole world) - and exactly for this purposes you need fork.
As far as I know, only this is the most flexible way manage your updates with original repo. And only this way can avoid undesired commit into original repo (repo owner able manage all propositions about any changes).

Answer 3

I guess the best answer I can think of is you might want to bring the fork back into the original branch, hence keeping it in the same repository.

I believe Forks were designed for playing with ideas or for suggesting changes to the owner of the repository, heres a link about it:

Github Forks