Introduction

• git branch command is a fundamental part of Git that allows you to create, list and manage branches within your repository.
• By default, you start with a single branch, usually called main or master, but you can create multiple branches to handle various tasks in parallel.
• Below diagram shows the concept of branching in Git:
• Why to Use git branch:-
  • Isolated Line of Development: A branch in Git represents an isolated line of development, enabling you to work on different features or bug fixes without affecting the main project.
  • Lightweight and Efficient: Branching in Git is lightweight and efficient, making it ideal for experimenting with new ideas, implementing features, or resolving issues.
  • Keep the main branch Stable: It helps in keeping the main branch stable while allowing parallel development in separate branches.
  • Collaboration: In collaborative environments, it allows team members to work on different tasks independently and merge their work back into the main codebase when ready.

How to use git branch ?

1. Open the Git terminal (or command prompt) and navigate to the project folder where your Git repository is initialized.
2. Default Branch Creation:
   • When you run git init, Git sets up an empty repository and default branch (usually main or master) is created.
   • When you provide first git commit command, it saves your initial work onto that default branch.
   • (Optional) If needed, you can rename the branch to any other name using below command:
     • git branch -M <branch-name>
3. Creating a New Branch:
   • After setting up the main branch, you can create a new branch to work on a feature or bug fix.
   • Now lets create a new branch named feature-1 which will keep your changes separate from main branch.
   • Example : git branch feature-1
   • Now check wether the branch is created or not using below command:
     • git branch
   • This will list all the branches in your repository, and the current branch will be highlighted with an asterisk (*).
   • Below is the example of how it looks like:
4. Now you can:
   • Switch to that new branch using git checkout feature-1 command.
   • Make changes like add new feature, fix bugs, etc.
   • Commit changes using git commit command.
   • And at last merge changes back to default branch (main or master)

Different ways to use git branch ?

1. Create a New Branch:
   • Syntax :
     • git branch <branch-name>
   • Example :
     • git branch feature-1
   • Use case: Create a new branch from the current branch without switching to it.
2. List All Local Branches:
   • Syntax & Example :
     • git branch
   • Description: Displays a list of all local branches in the repository.
   • Use case: To see which branches exist and which one you're currently on (highlighted with *).
3. Create a New Branch from a Specific Commit:
   • Syntax :
     • git branch <branch-name> <commit-id>
   • Example:
     • git branch debug-fix a1b2c3d
   • Use case: Useful when you want to branch out from a previous point in history.
4. Rename a Branch:
   • Syntax :
     • git branch -m <new-name>
   • Example :
     • git branch -m dev
   • Use case: Renames the current branch to a new name.
5. Delete a Local Branch:
   • Syntax :
     • git branch -d <branch-name>
     • (use -D to force delete)
   • Example:
     • git branch -d old-feature
   • Use case: Clean up branches that have already been merged or are no longer needed.
6. List Remote Branches:
   • Syntax :
     • git branch -r
   • Description: Shows branches from remote repositories (e.g. origin/main, origin/dev).
7. List All Branches (Local + Remote):
   • Syntax :
     • git branch -a
   • Description: Lists all local and remote branches.
8. Check Last Commit on Each Branch:
   • Syntax :
     • git branch -v
   • Description: Shows the latest commit on each branch.
9. See Which Branches Have Been Merged:
   • Syntax :
     • git branch --merged
   • Description: Lists branches that have already been merged into the current branch.
10. See Which Branches Have Not Been Merged:
    • Syntax :
      • git branch --no-merged
    • Description: Lists branches that haven't been merged yet.