What is GitHub?

GitHub is a web-based service for hosting Git repositories, which is crucial for version control and collaborative software development. It allows users to store their code online, manage different versions of code through Git, and collaborate with others seamlessly. This functionality is important for developers working on projects individually or as part of a team, as it simplifies the process of tracking changes, merging contributions, and maintaining the overall integrity of the codebase.

While local storage repositories can be part of a developer's workflow, they do not provide the collaborative tools and accessibility features that GitHub offers. IDEs, or Integrated Development Environments, are used for writing and testing code but do not function as code repositories themselves. Similarly, database management systems are designed for managing data rather than facilitating version control and collaboration on code projects. This context highlights why the option identifying GitHub as a web-based service that hosts Git repositories is the most accurate choice.