git-branch

List, create, rename, and delete branches

TLDR

List all local branches

$ git branch

List all branches including remote

$ git branch -a

Create a new branch

$ git branch [branch_name]

Create and switch to a new branch

$ git branch [branch_name] && git checkout [branch_name]

Delete a local branch

$ git branch -d [branch_name]

Force delete a branch with unmerged changes

$ git branch -D [branch_name]

Rename the current branch

$ git branch -m [new_name]

Set upstream tracking branch

$ git branch -u [origin/branch_name]

Show branches with last commit

$ git branch -v

SYNOPSIS

git branch [OPTIONS] [BRANCH-NAME] [START-POINT]

git branch lists, creates, renames, and deletes branches. Without arguments, it lists existing local branches, marking the current branch with an asterisk.Branches are lightweight pointers to commits, allowing parallel development workflows. Creating a branch does not switch to it; use git checkout or git switch to change branches.Remote-tracking branches (origin/main, etc.) are read-only references to the state of branches on remote repositories. They are updated by git fetch.

PARAMETERS

-a, --all

List both local and remote-tracking branches.

-r, --remotes

List remote-tracking branches only.

-d, --delete

Delete a branch (must be fully merged).

-D

Force delete a branch regardless of merge status.

-m, --move

Rename a branch.

-M

Force rename even if target name exists.

-c, --copy

Copy a branch.

-u, --set-upstream-to=UPSTREAM

Set upstream tracking branch.

--unset-upstream

Remove upstream tracking information.

-v, --verbose

Show SHA1 and commit subject for each branch.

--merged

List branches merged into current branch.

--no-merged

List branches not merged into current branch.

--contains COMMIT

List branches containing the specified commit.

--show-current

Print the name of the current branch (nothing in detached HEAD state).

--sort KEY

Sort listing by key (e.g. -committerdate); prefix - for descending order.

-f, --force

Reset a branch to start-point even if it exists; combined with -d or -m, force delete/rename.

--points-at OBJECT

List branches pointing at the specified object.

INSTALL

sudo apt install git

sudo dnf install git

sudo pacman -S git

sudo apk add git

sudo zypper install git

brew install git

nix profile install nixpkgs#git

CAVEATS

Deleting a branch with -d fails if the branch has unmerged changes. Use -D to force deletion, but unmerged work will be lost (though commits remain recoverable via reflog temporarily). Cannot delete the currently checked-out branch.

HISTORY

Branching has been a core Git feature since its creation by Linus Torvalds in 2005. Git's lightweight branching model, where branches are simply pointers to commits rather than full directory copies, was revolutionary and enabled workflows like GitFlow and GitHub Flow.

RESOURCES

Source code · Homepage · Documentation