All commands

git branch

Create, list and rename refs that point at commits.

git branch
Where this fits in the command map

What it does

A branch is nothing but a movable pointer — a text file in .git/refs/heads that stores one commit hash. git branch lists them, creates a new pointer at the current commit, or renames one. Crucially, it does NOT move you onto the branch; that's git switch or git checkout.

9a2f1c0init project4b7c2a5add components74d3b9ffeat: dark modemainHEADfeature

git branch feature just adds a second pointer to the same commit

Watch it — press play

A narrated, step-by-step walkthrough that shows how to do it — not just theory. It adapts to the learner mode you picked in the top bar.

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Step 1

Pick your starting point

A branch is just a pointer to a commit. From wherever HEAD is, you can hang a new name.

git branch feature
9a2f1c0init project4b7c2a5add componentsc86d9eestyle layoutmainHEAD

Under the hood

1

A branch is a file with one hash

Creating a branch literally writes a 41-byte file. The hash is copied from wherever you were when you ran it — usually HEAD's commit.

echo 74d3b9f0… > .git/refs/heads/feature  # what `git branch feature` does
2

Multiple branches, one commit each

Branches are cheap because they hold no data. The history they point at is shared — branch pointers just let you name different positions along it.

3

Listing reads refs and shows HEAD target

`git branch` reads every file in refs/heads, resolves each to its commit, and puts an asterisk on the branch that HEAD's ref: line names.

$ git branch
* main
  feature/login
  feature/export
4

Deleting removes the pointer, never the commits

Deleting a branch deletes its ref file only. The commits remain in objects/ and stay alive until garbage collected — which is why you can often recover a 'deleted' branch.

Aliases the pros type

Memorize the git branch concept, then let one of these shortcuts make it instant. Aliases are real git config keys — add one with:

git config --global alias.st # → git branch
AliasWhy people use it
g b

The universal shorthand for listing branches.

g bav

List everything with tracking info.

g ba

Include remote-tracking branches in the list.

g bd

Delete a merged branch.

g bnm

What's not merged yet — pre-merge check.

Command anatomy

git branch <name>
<name>

Create a new branch pointing at your current commit.

-a

List all branches, including remote-tracking ones.

-d / -D

Delete a branch (merged / force).

-m

Rename the current branch.

-vv

Show which refs each local branch tracks.

When to reach for it

You want to start a feature without leaving your current branch yet.

Check what branches exist and where they point before switching.

Cleaning up stale branches with -d after a merge.

Pro tip

Create AND check out in one move: `git switch -c feature` (or the older `git checkout -b feature`). Two separate actions — create pointer, then move HEAD — are compressed into one command.

Go deeper with

git checkout

Move HEAD to another branch and rebuild your working tree.

git merge

Fold the history of another branch into yours.

git log

Walk the chain of parent links and read your history.