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

 git-branch(1)
 =============

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

 SYNOPSIS
 --------
 [verse]
 'git-branch' [--color | --no-color] [-r | -a] [--merged | --no-merged]
 	   [-v [--abbrev=<length> | --no-abbrev]]
 	   [--contains <commit>]
 'git-branch' [--track | --no-track] [-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.
 With `--contains <commit>`, shows only the branches that
 contains the named commit (in other words, the branches whose
 tip commits are descendant of the named commit).
 With `--merged`, only branches merged into HEAD will be listed, and
 with `--no-merged` only branches not merged into HEAD will be listed.

 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.

 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 branch, git sets up the
 branch so that linkgit:git-pull[1] will appropriately merge from
 the remote 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.

 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 remote repository or if linkgit:git-fetch[1] was configured not to fetch
 them again. See also 'prune' subcommand of linkgit:git-remote[1] for way to
 clean up all obsolete remote-tracking branches.


 OPTIONS
 -------
 -d::
 	Delete a branch. The branch must be fully merged in HEAD.

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

 -l::
 	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}".

 -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::
 --verbose::
 	Show sha1 and commit subject line for each head.

 --abbrev=<length>::
 	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.

 --track::
 	When creating a new branch, set up configuration so that git-pull
 	will automatically retrieve data from the start point, which must be
 	a branch. Use this if you always pull from the same upstream branch
 	into the new branch, and if you don't want to use "git pull
 	<repository> <refspec>" explicitly. This behavior is the default
 	when the start point is a remote 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 branch.

 --no-track::
 	Ignore the branch.autosetupmerge configuration variable.

 --contains <commit>::
 	Only list branches which contain the specified commit.

 --merged::
 	Only list branches which are fully contained by HEAD.

 --no-merged::
 	Do not list branches which are fully contained by HEAD.

 <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 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 origin/todo origin/html origin/man   <1>
 $ git branch -D test                                    <2>
 ------------
 +
 <1> Delete remote-tracking branches "todo", "html", "man". Next 'fetch' or
 'pull' will create them again unless you configure them not to. See
 linkgit:git-fetch[1].
 <2> Delete "test" branch even if the "master" branch (or whichever branch is
 currently checked out) does not have all commits from test 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.

 The options `--contains`, `--merged` and `--no-merged` serves 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.

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

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

	SYNOPSIS
	--------
	[verse]
	'git-branch' [--color \| --no-color] [-r \| -a] [--merged \| --no-merged]
	[-v [--abbrev=<length> \| --no-abbrev]]
	[--contains <commit>]
	'git-branch' [--track \| --no-track] [-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.
	With `--contains <commit>`, shows only the branches that
	contains the named commit (in other words, the branches whose
	tip commits are descendant of the named commit).
	With `--merged`, only branches merged into HEAD will be listed, and
	with `--no-merged` only branches not merged into HEAD will be listed.

	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.

	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 branch, git sets up the
	branch so that linkgit:git-pull[1] will appropriately merge from
	the remote 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.

	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 remote repository or if linkgit:git-fetch[1] was configured not to fetch
	them again. See also 'prune' subcommand of linkgit:git-remote[1] for way to
	clean up all obsolete remote-tracking branches.


	OPTIONS
	-------
	-d::
	Delete a branch. The branch must be fully merged in HEAD.

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

	-l::
	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}".

	-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::
	--verbose::
	Show sha1 and commit subject line for each head.

	--abbrev=<length>::
	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.

	--track::
	When creating a new branch, set up configuration so that git-pull
	will automatically retrieve data from the start point, which must be
	a branch. Use this if you always pull from the same upstream branch
	into the new branch, and if you don't want to use "git pull
	<repository> <refspec>" explicitly. This behavior is the default
	when the start point is a remote 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 branch.

	--no-track::
	Ignore the branch.autosetupmerge configuration variable.

	--contains <commit>::
	Only list branches which contain the specified commit.

	--merged::
	Only list branches which are fully contained by HEAD.

	--no-merged::
	Do not list branches which are fully contained by HEAD.

	<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 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 origin/todo origin/html origin/man <1>
	$ git branch -D test <2>
	------------
	+
	<1> Delete remote-tracking branches "todo", "html", "man". Next 'fetch' or
	'pull' will create them again unless you configure them not to. See
	linkgit:git-fetch[1].
	<2> Delete "test" branch even if the "master" branch (or whichever branch is
	currently checked out) does not have all commits from test 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.

	The options `--contains`, `--merged` and `--no-merged` serves 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.

	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 linkgit:git[1] suite