Working with Branches
Branches in Git allow you to work on different features or experiments independently without affecting the main codebase.
1. View Branches
git branch
Description: Lists all local branches in your repository.
- The current branch is highlighted with
*.
Output might look like:
* main→ current branchfeature-login→ another branch
2. Create a New Branch
git branch <branch>
Description: Creates a new branch with the specified name.
- Your current working branch does not change until you switch to it.
Example:
git branch feature-login
3. Switch Branches
git checkout <branch>
Description: Switches your working directory to the specified branch.
Example:
git checkout feature-login
- Alternative (newer Git versions):
git switch feature-login
4. Create and Switch in One Command
git checkout -b <branch>
Description: Creates a new branch and switches to it immediately.
Example:
git checkout -b feature-signup
- Alternative (newer Git versions):
git switch -c feature-signup
5. Delete a Branch
git branch -d <branch>
Description: Deletes a local branch that has been merged.
- Use
-Dto force delete an unmerged branch.
Example:
git branch -d feature-login
Summary of Branch Commands
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
git branch | List all local branches |
git branch <branch> | Create a new branch |
git checkout <branch> | Switch to an existing branch |
git switch <branch> | Switch to an existing branch (modern syntax) |
git checkout -b <branch> | Create and switch to a new branch |
git switch -c <branch> | Create and switch to a new branch (modern) |
git branch -d <branch> | Delete a merged branch |
Next, you’ll learn how to merge branches.