Git Branching
Syntax
git branch [--set-upstream | --track | --no-track] [-l] [-f] <branchname> [<start-point>]git branch (--set-upstream-to=<upstream> | -u <upstream>) [<branchname>]git branch --unset-upstream [<branchname>]git branch (-m | -M) [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>git branch (-d | -D) [-r] <branchname>…git branch --edit-description [<branchname>]git branch [--color[=<when>] | --no-color] [-r | -a] [--list] [-v [--abbrev=<length> | --no-abbrev]] [--column[=<options>] | --no-column] [(--merged | --no-merged | --contains) [<commit>]] [--sort=<key>] [--points-at <object>] [<pattern>…]
Parameters
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| -d, --delete | Delete a branch. The branch must be fully merged in its upstream branch, or in HEAD if no upstream was set with --track or --set-upstream |
| -D | Shortcut for --delete --force |
| -m, --move | Move/rename a branch and the corresponding reflog |
| -M | Shortcut for --move --force |
| -r, --remotes | List or delete (if used with -d) the remote-tracking branches |
| -a, --all | List both remote-tracking branches and local branches |
| --list | Activate the list mode. git branch <pattern> would try to create a branch, use git branch --list <pattern> to list matching branches |
| --set-upstream | If specified branch does not exist yet or if --force has been given, acts exactly like --track. Otherwise sets up configuration like --track would when creating the branch, except that where branch points to is not changed |
Remarks
Every git repository has one or more branches. A branch is a named reference to the HEAD of a sequence of commits.
A git repo has a current branch (indicated by a * in the list of branch names printed by the git branch command), Whenever you create a new commit with the git commit command, your new commit becomes the HEAD of the current branch, and the previous HEAD becomes the parent of the new commit.
A new branch will have the same HEAD as the branch from which it was created until something is committed to the new branch.
