git-branch(1) ============= NAME ---- git-branch - List, create, or delete branches SYNOPSIS -------- [verse] 'git-branch' [--color | --no-color] [-r | -a] [-v [--abbrev= | --no-abbrev]] 'git-branch' [--track | --no-track] [-l] [-f] [] 'git-branch' (-m | -M) [] 'git-branch' (-d | -D) [-r] ... DESCRIPTION ----------- With no arguments given a list of existing branches will be shown, the current branch will be highlighted with an asterisk. Option `-r` causes the remote-tracking branches to be listed, and option `-a` shows both. In its second form, a new branch named will be created. It will start out with a head equal to the one given as . If no is given, the branch will be created with a head equal to that of the currently checked out branch. When a local branch is started off a remote branch, git can setup the branch so that gitlink:git-pull[1] will appropriately merge from that remote branch. If this behavior is desired, it is possible to make it the default using the global `branch.autosetupmerge` configuration flag. Otherwise, it can be chosen per-branch using the `--track` and `--no-track` options. With a '-m' or '-M' option, will be renamed to . If had a corresponding reflog, it is renamed to match , and a reflog entry is created to remember the branch renaming. If exists, -M must be used to force the rename to happen. With a `-d` or `-D` option, `` will be deleted. You may specify more than one branch for deletion. If the branch currently has a ref log then the ref log will also be deleted. Use -r together with -d to delete remote-tracking branches. OPTIONS ------- -d:: Delete a branch. The branch must be fully merged. -D:: Delete a branch irrespective of its index status. -l:: Create the branch's ref log. This activates recording of all changes to made the branch ref, enabling use of date based sha1 expressions such as "@{yesterday}". -f:: Force the creation of a new branch even if it means deleting a branch that already exists with the same name. -m:: Move/rename a branch and the corresponding reflog. -M:: Move/rename a branch even if the new branchname already exists. --color:: Color branches to highlight current, local, and remote branches. --no-color:: Turn off branch colors, even when the configuration file gives the default to color output. -r:: List or delete (if used with -d) the remote-tracking branches. -a:: List both remote-tracking branches and local branches. -v:: Show sha1 and commit subject line for each head. --abbrev=:: Alter minimum display length for sha1 in output listing, default value is 7. --no-abbrev:: Display the full sha1s in output listing rather than abbreviating them. :: The name of the branch to create or delete. The new branch name must pass all checks defined by gitlink:git-check-ref-format[1]. Some of these checks may restrict the characters allowed in a branch name. :: The new branch will be created with a HEAD equal to this. It may be given as a branch name, a commit-id, or a tag. If this option is omitted, the current branch is assumed. :: The name of an existing branch to rename. :: The new name for an existing branch. The same restrictions as for applies. Examples -------- Start development off of a known tag:: + ------------ $ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/.../linux-2.6 my2.6 $ cd my2.6 $ git branch my2.6.14 v2.6.14 <1> $ git checkout my2.6.14 ------------ + <1> This step and the next one could be combined into a single step with "checkout -b my2.6.14 v2.6.14". Delete unneeded branch:: + ------------ $ git clone git://git.kernel.org/.../git.git my.git $ cd my.git $ git branch -d -r todo html man <1> $ git branch -D test <2> ------------ + <1> delete remote-tracking branches "todo", "html", "man" <2> delete "test" branch even if the "master" branch does not have all commits from todo branch. Notes ----- If you are creating a branch that you want to immediately checkout, it's easier to use the git checkout command with its `-b` option to create a branch and check it out with a single command. Author ------ Written by Linus Torvalds and Junio C Hamano Documentation -------------- Documentation by Junio C Hamano and the git-list . GIT --- Part of the gitlink:git[7] suite