Documentation/git-branch.txt - git - Git at Google


            
            git-branch(1)

            
            =============


            NAME

            
            ----

            
            git-branch - List, create, or delete branches


            SYNOPSIS

            
            --------

            
            [verse]

            
            'git branch' [--color[=<when>] | --no-color] [-r | -a]

            
            	[--list] [-v [--abbrev=<length> | --no-abbrev]]

            
            	[--column[=<options>] | --no-column]

            
            	[(--merged | --no-merged | --contains) [<commit>]] [<pattern>...]

            
            '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>]


            DESCRIPTION

            
            -----------


            If `--list` is given, or if there are no non-option arguments, existing

            
            branches are listed; the current branch will be highlighted with an

            
            asterisk.  Option `-r` causes the remote-tracking branches to be listed,

            
            and option `-a` shows both local and remote branches. If a `<pattern>`

            
            is given, it is used as a shell wildcard to restrict the output to

            
            matching branches. If multiple patterns are given, a branch is shown if

            
            it matches any of the patterns.  Note that when providing a

            
            `<pattern>`, you must use `--list`; otherwise the command is interpreted

            
            as branch creation.


            With `--contains`, shows only the branches that contain the named commit

            
            (in other words, the branches whose tip commits are descendants of the

            
            named commit).  With `--merged`, only branches merged into the named

            
            commit (i.e. the branches whose tip commits are reachable from the named

            
            commit) will be listed.  With `--no-merged` only branches not merged into

            
            the named commit will be listed.  If the <commit> argument is missing it

            
            defaults to 'HEAD' (i.e. the tip of the current branch).


            The command's second form creates a new branch head named <branchname>

            
            which points to the current 'HEAD', or <start-point> if given.


            Note that this will create the new branch, but it will not switch the

            
            working tree to it; use "git checkout <newbranch>" to switch to the

            
            new branch.


            When a local branch is started off a remote-tracking branch, Git sets up the

            
            branch so that 'git pull' will appropriately merge from

            
            the remote-tracking branch. This behavior may be changed via the global

            
            `branch.autosetupmerge` configuration flag. That setting can be

            
            overridden by using the `--track` and `--no-track` options, and

            
            changed later using `git branch --set-upstream-to`.


            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 reflog then the reflog will also be deleted.


            Use `-r` together with `-d` to delete remote-tracking branches. Note, that it

            
            only makes sense to delete remote-tracking branches if they no longer exist

            
            in the remote repository or if 'git fetch' was configured not to fetch

            
            them again. See also the 'prune' subcommand of linkgit:git-remote[1] for a

            
            way to clean up all obsolete remote-tracking branches.


            OPTIONS

            
            -------

            
            -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::

            
            	Delete a branch irrespective of its merged status.


            -l::

            
            --create-reflog::

            
            	Create the branch's reflog.  This activates recording of

            
            	all changes made to the branch ref, enabling use of date

            
            	based sha1 expressions such as "<branchname>@\{yesterday}".

            
            	Note that in non-bare repositories, reflogs are usually

            
            	enabled by default by the `core.logallrefupdates` config option.


            -f::

            
            --force::

            
            	Reset <branchname> to <startpoint> if <branchname> exists

            
            	already. Without `-f` 'git branch' refuses to change an existing branch.


            -m::

            
            --move::

            
            	Move/rename a branch and the corresponding reflog.


            -M::

            
            	Move/rename a branch even if the new branch name already exists.


            --color[=<when>]::

            
            	Color branches to highlight current, local, and

            
            	remote-tracking branches.

            
            	The value must be always (the default), never, or auto.


            --no-color::

            
            	Turn off branch colors, even when the configuration file gives the

            
            	default to color output.

            
            	Same as `--color=never`.


            --column[=<options>]::

            
            --no-column::

            
            	Display branch listing in columns. See configuration variable

            
            	column.branch for option syntax.`--column` and `--no-column`

            
            	without options are equivalent to 'always' and 'never' respectively.

            
            +

            
            This option is only applicable in non-verbose mode.


            -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.


            -v::

            
            -vv::

            
            --verbose::

            
            	When in list mode,

            
            	show sha1 and commit subject line for each head, along with

            
            	relationship to upstream branch (if any). If given twice, print

            
            	the name of the upstream branch, as well (see also `git remote

            
            	show <remote>`).


            -q::

            
            --quiet::

            
            	Be more quiet when creating or deleting a branch, suppressing

            
            	non-error messages.


            --abbrev=<length>::

            
            	Alter the sha1's minimum display length in the output listing.

            
            	The default value is 7 and can be overridden by the `core.abbrev`

            
            	config option.


            --no-abbrev::

            
            	Display the full sha1s in the output listing rather than abbreviating them.


            -t::

            
            --track::

            
            	When creating a new branch, set up configuration to mark the

            
            	start-point branch as "upstream" from the new branch. This

            
            	configuration will tell git to show the relationship between the

            
            	two branches in `git status` and `git branch -v`. Furthermore,

            
            	it directs `git pull` without arguments to pull from the

            
            	upstream when the new branch is checked out.

            
            +

            
            This behavior is the default when the start point is a remote-tracking branch.

            
            Set the branch.autosetupmerge configuration variable to `false` if you

            
            want `git checkout` and `git branch` to always behave as if '--no-track'

            
            were given. Set it to `always` if you want this behavior when the

            
            start-point is either a local or remote-tracking branch.


            --no-track::

            
            	Do not set up "upstream" configuration, even if the

            
            	branch.autosetupmerge configuration variable is true.


            --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.


            -u <upstream>::

            
            --set-upstream-to=<upstream>::

            
            	Set up <branchname>'s tracking information so <upstream> is

            
            	considered <branchname>'s upstream branch. If no <branchname>

            
            	is specified, then it defaults to the current branch.


            --unset-upstream::

            
            	Remove the upstream information for <branchname>. If no branch

            
            	is specified it defaults to the current branch.


            --edit-description::

            
            	Open an editor and edit the text to explain what the branch is

            
            	for, to be used by various other commands (e.g. `request-pull`).


            --contains [<commit>]::

            
            	Only list branches which contain the specified commit (HEAD

            
            	if not specified). Implies `--list`.


            --merged [<commit>]::

            
            	Only list branches whose tips are reachable from the

            
            	specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`.


            --no-merged [<commit>]::

            
            	Only list branches whose tips are not reachable from the

            
            	specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`.


            <branchname>::

            
            	The name of the branch to create or delete.

            
            	The new branch name must pass all checks defined by

            
            	linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1].  Some of these checks

            
            	may restrict the characters allowed in a branch name.


            <start-point>::

            
            	The new branch head will point to this commit.  It may be

            
            	given as a branch name, a commit-id, or a tag.  If this

            
            	option is omitted, the current HEAD will be used instead.


            <oldbranch>::

            
            	The name of an existing branch to rename.


            <newbranch>::

            
            	The new name for an existing branch. The same restrictions as for

            
            	<branchname> apply.


            Examples

            
            --------


            Start development from 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 an unneeded branch::

            
            +

            
            ------------

            
            $ git clone git://git.kernel.org/.../git.git my.git

            
            $ cd my.git

            
            $ git branch -d -r origin/todo origin/html origin/man   <1>

            
            $ git branch -D test                                    <2>

            
            ------------

            
            +

            
            <1> Delete the remote-tracking branches "todo", "html" and "man". The next

            
            'fetch' or 'pull' will create them again unless you configure them not to.

            
            See linkgit:git-fetch[1].

            
            <2> Delete the "test" branch even if the "master" branch (or whichever branch

            
            is currently checked out) does not have all commits from the test branch.


            Notes

            
            -----


            If you are creating a branch that you want to checkout immediately, it is

            
            easier to use the git checkout command with its `-b` option to create

            
            a branch and check it out with a single command.


            The options `--contains`, `--merged` and `--no-merged` serve three related

            
            but different purposes:


            - `--contains <commit>` is used to find all branches which will need

            
              special attention if <commit> were to be rebased or amended, since those

            
              branches contain the specified <commit>.


            - `--merged` is used to find all branches which can be safely deleted,

            
              since those branches are fully contained by HEAD.


            - `--no-merged` is used to find branches which are candidates for merging

            
              into HEAD, since those branches are not fully contained by HEAD.


            SEE ALSO

            
            --------

            
            linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1],

            
            linkgit:git-fetch[1],

            
            linkgit:git-remote[1],

            
            link:user-manual.html#what-is-a-branch[``Understanding history: What is

            
            a branch?''] in the Git User's Manual.


            GIT

            
            ---

            
            Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite
	git-branch(1)
	=============

	NAME
	----
	git-branch - List, create, or delete branches

	SYNOPSIS
	--------
	[verse]
	'git branch' [--color[=<when>] \| --no-color] [-r \| -a]
	[--list] [-v [--abbrev=<length> \| --no-abbrev]]
	[--column[=<options>] \| --no-column]
	[(--merged \| --no-merged \| --contains) [<commit>]] [<pattern>...]
	'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>]

	DESCRIPTION
	-----------

	If `--list` is given, or if there are no non-option arguments, existing
	branches are listed; the current branch will be highlighted with an
	asterisk. Option `-r` causes the remote-tracking branches to be listed,
	and option `-a` shows both local and remote branches. If a `<pattern>`
	is given, it is used as a shell wildcard to restrict the output to
	matching branches. If multiple patterns are given, a branch is shown if
	it matches any of the patterns. Note that when providing a
	`<pattern>`, you must use `--list`; otherwise the command is interpreted
	as branch creation.

	With `--contains`, shows only the branches that contain the named commit
	(in other words, the branches whose tip commits are descendants of the
	named commit). With `--merged`, only branches merged into the named
	commit (i.e. the branches whose tip commits are reachable from the named
	commit) will be listed. With `--no-merged` only branches not merged into
	the named commit will be listed. If the <commit> argument is missing it
	defaults to 'HEAD' (i.e. the tip of the current branch).

	The command's second form creates a new branch head named <branchname>
	which points to the current 'HEAD', or <start-point> if given.

	Note that this will create the new branch, but it will not switch the
	working tree to it; use "git checkout <newbranch>" to switch to the
	new branch.

	When a local branch is started off a remote-tracking branch, Git sets up the
	branch so that 'git pull' will appropriately merge from
	the remote-tracking branch. This behavior may be changed via the global
	`branch.autosetupmerge` configuration flag. That setting can be
	overridden by using the `--track` and `--no-track` options, and
	changed later using `git branch --set-upstream-to`.

	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 reflog then the reflog will also be deleted.

	Use `-r` together with `-d` to delete remote-tracking branches. Note, that it
	only makes sense to delete remote-tracking branches if they no longer exist
	in the remote repository or if 'git fetch' was configured not to fetch
	them again. See also the 'prune' subcommand of linkgit:git-remote[1] for a
	way to clean up all obsolete remote-tracking branches.


	OPTIONS
	-------
	-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::
	Delete a branch irrespective of its merged status.

	-l::
	--create-reflog::
	Create the branch's reflog. This activates recording of
	all changes made to the branch ref, enabling use of date
	based sha1 expressions such as "<branchname>@\{yesterday}".
	Note that in non-bare repositories, reflogs are usually
	enabled by default by the `core.logallrefupdates` config option.

	-f::
	--force::
	Reset <branchname> to <startpoint> if <branchname> exists
	already. Without `-f` 'git branch' refuses to change an existing branch.

	-m::
	--move::
	Move/rename a branch and the corresponding reflog.

	-M::
	Move/rename a branch even if the new branch name already exists.

	--color[=<when>]::
	Color branches to highlight current, local, and
	remote-tracking branches.
	The value must be always (the default), never, or auto.

	--no-color::
	Turn off branch colors, even when the configuration file gives the
	default to color output.
	Same as `--color=never`.

	--column[=<options>]::
	--no-column::
	Display branch listing in columns. See configuration variable
	column.branch for option syntax.`--column` and `--no-column`
	without options are equivalent to 'always' and 'never' respectively.
	+
	This option is only applicable in non-verbose mode.

	-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.

	-v::
	-vv::
	--verbose::
	When in list mode,
	show sha1 and commit subject line for each head, along with
	relationship to upstream branch (if any). If given twice, print
	the name of the upstream branch, as well (see also `git remote
	show <remote>`).

	-q::
	--quiet::
	Be more quiet when creating or deleting a branch, suppressing
	non-error messages.

	--abbrev=<length>::
	Alter the sha1's minimum display length in the output listing.
	The default value is 7 and can be overridden by the `core.abbrev`
	config option.

	--no-abbrev::
	Display the full sha1s in the output listing rather than abbreviating them.

	-t::
	--track::
	When creating a new branch, set up configuration to mark the
	start-point branch as "upstream" from the new branch. This
	configuration will tell git to show the relationship between the
	two branches in `git status` and `git branch -v`. Furthermore,
	it directs `git pull` without arguments to pull from the
	upstream when the new branch is checked out.
	+
	This behavior is the default when the start point is a remote-tracking branch.
	Set the branch.autosetupmerge configuration variable to `false` if you
	want `git checkout` and `git branch` to always behave as if '--no-track'
	were given. Set it to `always` if you want this behavior when the
	start-point is either a local or remote-tracking branch.

	--no-track::
	Do not set up "upstream" configuration, even if the
	branch.autosetupmerge configuration variable is true.

	--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.

	-u <upstream>::
	--set-upstream-to=<upstream>::
	Set up <branchname>'s tracking information so <upstream> is
	considered <branchname>'s upstream branch. If no <branchname>
	is specified, then it defaults to the current branch.

	--unset-upstream::
	Remove the upstream information for <branchname>. If no branch
	is specified it defaults to the current branch.

	--edit-description::
	Open an editor and edit the text to explain what the branch is
	for, to be used by various other commands (e.g. `request-pull`).

	--contains [<commit>]::
	Only list branches which contain the specified commit (HEAD
	if not specified). Implies `--list`.

	--merged [<commit>]::
	Only list branches whose tips are reachable from the
	specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`.

	--no-merged [<commit>]::
	Only list branches whose tips are not reachable from the
	specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`.

	<branchname>::
	The name of the branch to create or delete.
	The new branch name must pass all checks defined by
	linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1]. Some of these checks
	may restrict the characters allowed in a branch name.

	<start-point>::
	The new branch head will point to this commit. It may be
	given as a branch name, a commit-id, or a tag. If this
	option is omitted, the current HEAD will be used instead.

	<oldbranch>::
	The name of an existing branch to rename.

	<newbranch>::
	The new name for an existing branch. The same restrictions as for
	<branchname> apply.


	Examples
	--------

	Start development from 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 an unneeded branch::
	+
	------------
	$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/.../git.git my.git
	$ cd my.git
	$ git branch -d -r origin/todo origin/html origin/man <1>
	$ git branch -D test <2>
	------------
	+
	<1> Delete the remote-tracking branches "todo", "html" and "man". The next
	'fetch' or 'pull' will create them again unless you configure them not to.
	See linkgit:git-fetch[1].
	<2> Delete the "test" branch even if the "master" branch (or whichever branch
	is currently checked out) does not have all commits from the test branch.


	Notes
	-----

	If you are creating a branch that you want to checkout immediately, it is
	easier to use the git checkout command with its `-b` option to create
	a branch and check it out with a single command.

	The options `--contains`, `--merged` and `--no-merged` serve three related
	but different purposes:

	- `--contains <commit>` is used to find all branches which will need
	special attention if <commit> were to be rebased or amended, since those
	branches contain the specified <commit>.

	- `--merged` is used to find all branches which can be safely deleted,
	since those branches are fully contained by HEAD.

	- `--no-merged` is used to find branches which are candidates for merging
	into HEAD, since those branches are not fully contained by HEAD.

	SEE ALSO
	--------
	linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1],
	linkgit:git-fetch[1],
	linkgit:git-remote[1],
	link:user-manual.html#what-is-a-branch[``Understanding history: What is
	a branch?''] in the Git User's Manual.

	GIT
	---
	Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite