git-branch(1) ============= NAME ---- git-branch - List, create, or delete branches. SYNOPSIS -------- [verse] 'git-branch' [-r] [-a] 'git-branch' [-l] [-f] [] 'git-branch' (-d | -D) ... 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. 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. 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. -r:: List the remote-tracking branches. -a:: List both remote-tracking branches and local branches. :: 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. 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 todo <1> ------------ + <1> delete todo 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