git branch

List, create, rename or delete branches

What it does

A branch is a movable label on a commit: you work on a separate task in it without touching the main branch. With no arguments git branch lists local branches and marks the current one with an asterisk. With a name it creates a new branch at the current commit but does not switch to it.

-m renames a branch, -d deletes one. -d refuses to delete a branch that has not been merged, which protects your work. -D deletes without checking.

Careful. git branch -D deletes a branch even if its commits exist nowhere else. After that, only git reflog can bring them back.

Syntax

git branch
git branch <name>
git branch -m <old-name> <new-name>
git branch -d <name>

Examples

List local branches
```
git branch
```
- branch — branches; * marks the current one
Create the branch feature/cart without switching to it
```
git branch feature/cart
```
- branch — create a branch
- feature/cart — new branch name
Rename the branch feature/cart to feature/basket
```
git branch -m feature/cart feature/basket
```
same as: git branch --move feature/cart feature/basket
- -m — move — rename
- feature/cart feature/basket — old name → new name
Delete the already merged branch feature/login
```
git branch -d feature/login
```
same as: git branch --delete feature/login
- -d — delete, only if the branch is merged
- feature/login — branch

Related commands

git switch — Switch to another branch, or create a new one and switch to it
git merge — Bring the changes from another branch into the current one
git push — Send your commits to the server

Practise · All commands