SYNOPSIS

git-branch [--color | --no-color] [-r | -a] [-v [--abbrev=<length>]] git-branch [-l] [-f] <branchname> [<start-point>] git-branch (-m | -M) [<oldbranch>] <newbranch> git-branch (-d | -D) [-r] <branchname>…

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 <branchname> will be created. It will start out with a head equal to the one given as <start-point>. If no <start-point> is given, the branch will be created with a head equal to that of the currently checked out branch.

With a -m or -M option, <oldbranch> will be renamed to <newbranch>. If <oldbranch> had a corresponding reflog, it is renamed to match <newbranch>, and a reflog entry is created to remember the branch renaming. If <newbranch> exists, -M must be used to force the rename to happen.

With a -d or -D option, <branchname> 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

-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=<length>

Alter minimum display length for sha1 in output listing, default value is 7.

<branchname>

The name of the branch to create or delete. The new branch name must pass all checks defined by git-check-ref-format(1). Some of these checks may restrict the characters allowed in a branch name.

<start-point>

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.

<oldbranch>

The name of an existing branch to rename.

<newbranch>

The new name for an existing branch. The same restrictions as for <branchname> 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 <torvalds@osdl.org> and Junio C Hamano <junkio@cox.net>

Documentation

Documentation by Junio C Hamano and the git-list <git@vger.kernel.org>.

GIT

Part of the git(7) suite