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215a7ad1 JH |
1 | git-branch(1) |
2 | ============= | |
7fc9d69f JH |
3 | |
4 | NAME | |
5 | ---- | |
c3f0baac | 6 | git-branch - List, create, or delete branches |
7fc9d69f JH |
7 | |
8 | SYNOPSIS | |
9 | -------- | |
dd181119 | 10 | [verse] |
73e9da01 | 11 | 'git branch' [--color[=<when>] | --no-color] [-r | -a] |
cddd127b | 12 | [--list] [-v [--abbrev=<length> | --no-abbrev]] |
783b8292 | 13 | [--column[=<options>] | --no-column] [--sort=<key>] |
ac3f5a34 | 14 | [(--merged | --no-merged) [<commit>]] |
783b8292 | 15 | [--contains [<commit]] [--no-contains [<commit>]] |
3d9e4ce3 | 16 | [--points-at <object>] [--format=<format>] [<pattern>...] |
4fc50066 | 17 | 'git branch' [--set-upstream | --track | --no-track] [-l] [-f] <branchname> [<start-point>] |
6183d826 | 18 | 'git branch' (--set-upstream-to=<upstream> | -u <upstream>) [<branchname>] |
b84869ef | 19 | 'git branch' --unset-upstream [<branchname>] |
b1889c36 JN |
20 | 'git branch' (-m | -M) [<oldbranch>] <newbranch> |
21 | 'git branch' (-d | -D) [-r] <branchname>... | |
b7200e83 | 22 | 'git branch' --edit-description [<branchname>] |
7fc9d69f JH |
23 | |
24 | DESCRIPTION | |
25 | ----------- | |
049716b3 | 26 | |
de90ff81 JK |
27 | If `--list` is given, or if there are no non-option arguments, existing |
28 | branches are listed; the current branch will be highlighted with an | |
29 | asterisk. Option `-r` causes the remote-tracking branches to be listed, | |
30 | and option `-a` shows both local and remote branches. If a `<pattern>` | |
31 | is given, it is used as a shell wildcard to restrict the output to | |
32 | matching branches. If multiple patterns are given, a branch is shown if | |
33 | it matches any of the patterns. Note that when providing a | |
34 | `<pattern>`, you must use `--list`; otherwise the command is interpreted | |
35 | as branch creation. | |
049716b3 | 36 | |
e5ac1217 DM |
37 | With `--contains`, shows only the branches that contain the named commit |
38 | (in other words, the branches whose tip commits are descendants of the | |
783b8292 ÆAB |
39 | named commit), `--no-contains` inverts it. With `--merged`, only branches |
40 | merged into the named commit (i.e. the branches whose tip commits are | |
41 | reachable from the named commit) will be listed. With `--no-merged` only | |
42 | branches not merged into the named commit will be listed. If the <commit> | |
43 | argument is missing it defaults to `HEAD` (i.e. the tip of the current | |
44 | branch). | |
7fc9d69f | 45 | |
bb35f35e | 46 | The command's second form creates a new branch head named <branchname> |
661c3e9b | 47 | which points to the current `HEAD`, or <start-point> if given. |
2eaf273d | 48 | |
46749204 FMQ |
49 | Note that this will create the new branch, but it will not switch the |
50 | working tree to it; use "git checkout <newbranch>" to switch to the | |
51 | new branch. | |
52 | ||
2de9b711 | 53 | When a local branch is started off a remote-tracking branch, Git sets up the |
fef0e991 JH |
54 | branch (specifically the `branch.<name>.remote` and `branch.<name>.merge` |
55 | configuration entries) so that 'git pull' will appropriately merge from | |
29b9a66f | 56 | the remote-tracking branch. This behavior may be changed via the global |
da0005b8 | 57 | `branch.autoSetupMerge` configuration flag. That setting can be |
4eec6f98 | 58 | overridden by using the `--track` and `--no-track` options, and |
6183d826 | 59 | changed later using `git branch --set-upstream-to`. |
0746d19a | 60 | |
3ea2232d | 61 | With a `-m` or `-M` option, <oldbranch> will be renamed to <newbranch>. |
c976d415 LH |
62 | If <oldbranch> had a corresponding reflog, it is renamed to match |
63 | <newbranch>, and a reflog entry is created to remember the branch | |
64 | renaming. If <newbranch> exists, -M must be used to force the rename | |
65 | to happen. | |
66 | ||
2eaf273d | 67 | With a `-d` or `-D` option, `<branchname>` will be deleted. You may |
3a4b3f26 | 68 | specify more than one branch for deletion. If the branch currently |
1e72a40d JH |
69 | has a reflog then the reflog will also be deleted. |
70 | ||
3ea2232d | 71 | Use `-r` together with `-d` to delete remote-tracking branches. Note, that it |
1e72a40d | 72 | only makes sense to delete remote-tracking branches if they no longer exist |
0b444cdb | 73 | in the remote repository or if 'git fetch' was configured not to fetch |
e5ac1217 DM |
74 | them again. See also the 'prune' subcommand of linkgit:git-remote[1] for a |
75 | way to clean up all obsolete remote-tracking branches. | |
dd181119 JL |
76 | |
77 | ||
7fc9d69f JH |
78 | OPTIONS |
79 | ------- | |
d4072c97 | 80 | -d:: |
171edcbb | 81 | --delete:: |
fff0d0ab JN |
82 | Delete a branch. The branch must be fully merged in its |
83 | upstream branch, or in `HEAD` if no upstream was set with | |
84 | `--track` or `--set-upstream`. | |
d4072c97 AE |
85 | |
86 | -D:: | |
83fe1670 | 87 | Shortcut for `--delete --force`. |
d4072c97 | 88 | |
3a4b3f26 | 89 | -l:: |
171edcbb | 90 | --create-reflog:: |
792d2370 JK |
91 | Create the branch's reflog. This activates recording of |
92 | all changes made to the branch ref, enabling use of date | |
967506bb | 93 | based sha1 expressions such as "<branchname>@\{yesterday}". |
4c35f0db | 94 | Note that in non-bare repositories, reflogs are usually |
c3342b36 | 95 | enabled by default by the `core.logAllRefUpdates` config option. |
67c70bd9 CW |
96 | The negated form `--no-create-reflog` only overrides an earlier |
97 | `--create-reflog`, but currently does not negate the setting of | |
c3342b36 | 98 | `core.logAllRefUpdates`. |
3a4b3f26 | 99 | |
075dd8ee | 100 | -f:: |
f7aec129 | 101 | --force:: |
fcfdf797 | 102 | Reset <branchname> to <startpoint> if <branchname> exists |
0b444cdb | 103 | already. Without `-f` 'git branch' refuses to change an existing branch. |
8482d042 MM |
104 | In combination with `-d` (or `--delete`), allow deleting the |
105 | branch irrespective of its merged status. In combination with | |
106 | `-m` (or `--move`), allow renaming the branch even if the new | |
107 | branch name already exists. | |
2eaf273d | 108 | |
c976d415 | 109 | -m:: |
171edcbb | 110 | --move:: |
c976d415 LH |
111 | Move/rename a branch and the corresponding reflog. |
112 | ||
113 | -M:: | |
83fe1670 | 114 | Shortcut for `--move --force`. |
c976d415 | 115 | |
73e9da01 | 116 | --color[=<when>]:: |
29b9a66f MM |
117 | Color branches to highlight current, local, and |
118 | remote-tracking branches. | |
73e9da01 | 119 | The value must be always (the default), never, or auto. |
f3673988 BG |
120 | |
121 | --no-color:: | |
122 | Turn off branch colors, even when the configuration file gives the | |
123 | default to color output. | |
73e9da01 | 124 | Same as `--color=never`. |
f3673988 | 125 | |
3bb16a8b NTND |
126 | -i:: |
127 | --ignore-case:: | |
128 | Sorting and filtering branches are case insensitive. | |
129 | ||
ebe31ef2 NTND |
130 | --column[=<options>]:: |
131 | --no-column:: | |
132 | Display branch listing in columns. See configuration variable | |
133 | column.branch for option syntax.`--column` and `--no-column` | |
134 | without options are equivalent to 'always' and 'never' respectively. | |
135 | + | |
136 | This option is only applicable in non-verbose mode. | |
137 | ||
2eaf273d | 138 | -r:: |
171edcbb | 139 | --remotes:: |
7dda22e3 | 140 | List or delete (if used with -d) the remote-tracking branches. |
bfcc9214 AP |
141 | |
142 | -a:: | |
171edcbb | 143 | --all:: |
bfcc9214 | 144 | List both remote-tracking branches and local branches. |
075dd8ee | 145 | |
cddd127b | 146 | --list:: |
75ec4a6c JH |
147 | List branches. With optional `<pattern>...`, e.g. `git |
148 | branch --list 'maint-*'`, list only the branches that match | |
149 | the pattern(s). | |
150 | + | |
151 | This should not be confused with `git branch -l <branchname>`, | |
152 | which creates a branch named `<branchname>` with a reflog. | |
153 | See `--create-reflog` above for details. | |
cddd127b | 154 | |
3240240f | 155 | -v:: |
f0970faa | 156 | -vv:: |
3240240f | 157 | --verbose:: |
7b787599 MG |
158 | When in list mode, |
159 | show sha1 and commit subject line for each head, along with | |
2d8a7f0b | 160 | relationship to upstream branch (if any). If given twice, print |
f0970faa PO |
161 | the name of the upstream branch, as well (see also `git remote |
162 | show <remote>`). | |
75e6e213 | 163 | |
d65ddf19 JK |
164 | -q:: |
165 | --quiet:: | |
166 | Be more quiet when creating or deleting a branch, suppressing | |
167 | non-error messages. | |
168 | ||
75e6e213 | 169 | --abbrev=<length>:: |
e5ac1217 | 170 | Alter the sha1's minimum display length in the output listing. |
b792c067 NK |
171 | The default value is 7 and can be overridden by the `core.abbrev` |
172 | config option. | |
75e6e213 | 173 | |
5e00f6fa | 174 | --no-abbrev:: |
e5ac1217 | 175 | Display the full sha1s in the output listing rather than abbreviating them. |
5e00f6fa | 176 | |
be427d75 | 177 | -t:: |
84d176ce | 178 | --track:: |
fef0e991 JH |
179 | When creating a new branch, set up `branch.<name>.remote` and |
180 | `branch.<name>.merge` configuration entries to mark the | |
167d7445 JK |
181 | start-point branch as "upstream" from the new branch. This |
182 | configuration will tell git to show the relationship between the | |
183 | two branches in `git status` and `git branch -v`. Furthermore, | |
184 | it directs `git pull` without arguments to pull from the | |
185 | upstream when the new branch is checked out. | |
186 | + | |
29b9a66f | 187 | This behavior is the default when the start point is a remote-tracking branch. |
da0005b8 | 188 | Set the branch.autoSetupMerge configuration variable to `false` if you |
bcf9626a | 189 | want `git checkout` and `git branch` to always behave as if `--no-track` |
167d7445 | 190 | were given. Set it to `always` if you want this behavior when the |
29b9a66f | 191 | start-point is either a local or remote-tracking branch. |
84d176ce FMQ |
192 | |
193 | --no-track:: | |
167d7445 | 194 | Do not set up "upstream" configuration, even if the |
da0005b8 | 195 | branch.autoSetupMerge configuration variable is true. |
84d176ce | 196 | |
4fc50066 | 197 | --set-upstream:: |
3ea2232d VR |
198 | If specified branch does not exist yet or if `--force` has been |
199 | given, acts exactly like `--track`. Otherwise sets up configuration | |
200 | like `--track` would when creating the branch, except that where | |
4fc50066 IL |
201 | branch points to is not changed. |
202 | ||
6183d826 CMN |
203 | -u <upstream>:: |
204 | --set-upstream-to=<upstream>:: | |
205 | Set up <branchname>'s tracking information so <upstream> is | |
206 | considered <branchname>'s upstream branch. If no <branchname> | |
207 | is specified, then it defaults to the current branch. | |
208 | ||
b84869ef CMN |
209 | --unset-upstream:: |
210 | Remove the upstream information for <branchname>. If no branch | |
211 | is specified it defaults to the current branch. | |
212 | ||
b7200e83 JH |
213 | --edit-description:: |
214 | Open an editor and edit the text to explain what the branch is | |
561d2b79 PO |
215 | for, to be used by various other commands (e.g. `format-patch`, |
216 | `request-pull`, and `merge` (if enabled)). Multi-line explanations | |
217 | may be used. | |
b7200e83 | 218 | |
f36ed6db VR |
219 | --contains [<commit>]:: |
220 | Only list branches which contain the specified commit (HEAD | |
d0403508 | 221 | if not specified). Implies `--list`. |
9a7ea2b1 | 222 | |
ac3f5a34 ÆAB |
223 | --no-contains [<commit>]:: |
224 | Only list branches which don't contain the specified commit | |
225 | (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`. | |
226 | ||
58d2c961 JN |
227 | --merged [<commit>]:: |
228 | Only list branches whose tips are reachable from the | |
17d6c744 ÆAB |
229 | specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`, |
230 | incompatible with `--no-merged`. | |
9a7ea2b1 | 231 | |
58d2c961 JN |
232 | --no-merged [<commit>]:: |
233 | Only list branches whose tips are not reachable from the | |
17d6c744 ÆAB |
234 | specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`, |
235 | incompatible with `--merged`. | |
9a7ea2b1 | 236 | |
52a22d1e | 237 | <branchname>:: |
d4072c97 | 238 | The name of the branch to create or delete. |
2b1f4247 | 239 | The new branch name must pass all checks defined by |
5162e697 | 240 | linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1]. Some of these checks |
2b1f4247 | 241 | may restrict the characters allowed in a branch name. |
7fc9d69f | 242 | |
075dd8ee | 243 | <start-point>:: |
bb35f35e JN |
244 | The new branch head will point to this commit. It may be |
245 | given as a branch name, a commit-id, or a tag. If this | |
246 | option is omitted, the current HEAD will be used instead. | |
2eaf273d | 247 | |
c976d415 LH |
248 | <oldbranch>:: |
249 | The name of an existing branch to rename. | |
250 | ||
251 | <newbranch>:: | |
252 | The new name for an existing branch. The same restrictions as for | |
e5ac1217 | 253 | <branchname> apply. |
7fc9d69f | 254 | |
aedcb7dc KN |
255 | --sort=<key>:: |
256 | Sort based on the key given. Prefix `-` to sort in descending | |
257 | order of the value. You may use the --sort=<key> option | |
258 | multiple times, in which case the last key becomes the primary | |
259 | key. The keys supported are the same as those in `git | |
260 | for-each-ref`. Sort order defaults to sorting based on the | |
261 | full refname (including `refs/...` prefix). This lists | |
262 | detached HEAD (if present) first, then local branches and | |
263 | finally remote-tracking branches. | |
264 | ||
1e2ccd3a | 265 | |
aa3bc55e KN |
266 | --points-at <object>:: |
267 | Only list branches of the given object. | |
1e2ccd3a | 268 | |
3d9e4ce3 | 269 | --format <format>:: |
e4933cee MG |
270 | A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from a branch ref being shown |
271 | and the object it points at. The format is the same as | |
3d9e4ce3 KN |
272 | that of linkgit:git-for-each-ref[1]. |
273 | ||
1e2ccd3a | 274 | Examples |
2eaf273d | 275 | -------- |
1e2ccd3a | 276 | |
e5ac1217 | 277 | Start development from a known tag:: |
1e2ccd3a JH |
278 | + |
279 | ------------ | |
280 | $ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/.../linux-2.6 my2.6 | |
281 | $ cd my2.6 | |
2eaf273d | 282 | $ git branch my2.6.14 v2.6.14 <1> |
1e2ccd3a | 283 | $ git checkout my2.6.14 |
1e2ccd3a | 284 | ------------ |
2eaf273d SE |
285 | + |
286 | <1> This step and the next one could be combined into a single step with | |
287 | "checkout -b my2.6.14 v2.6.14". | |
1e2ccd3a | 288 | |
e5ac1217 | 289 | Delete an unneeded branch:: |
1e2ccd3a JH |
290 | + |
291 | ------------ | |
292 | $ git clone git://git.kernel.org/.../git.git my.git | |
293 | $ cd my.git | |
33b1f3d5 FM |
294 | $ git branch -d -r origin/todo origin/html origin/man <1> |
295 | $ git branch -D test <2> | |
2eaf273d SE |
296 | ------------ |
297 | + | |
e5ac1217 DM |
298 | <1> Delete the remote-tracking branches "todo", "html" and "man". The next |
299 | 'fetch' or 'pull' will create them again unless you configure them not to. | |
300 | See linkgit:git-fetch[1]. | |
301 | <2> Delete the "test" branch even if the "master" branch (or whichever branch | |
302 | is currently checked out) does not have all commits from the test branch. | |
2eaf273d SE |
303 | |
304 | ||
305 | Notes | |
306 | ----- | |
307 | ||
e5ac1217 | 308 | If you are creating a branch that you want to checkout immediately, it is |
2eaf273d SE |
309 | easier to use the git checkout command with its `-b` option to create |
310 | a branch and check it out with a single command. | |
311 | ||
ac3f5a34 ÆAB |
312 | The options `--contains`, `--no-contains`, `--merged` and `--no-merged` |
313 | serve four related but different purposes: | |
9a7ea2b1 LH |
314 | |
315 | - `--contains <commit>` is used to find all branches which will need | |
316 | special attention if <commit> were to be rebased or amended, since those | |
317 | branches contain the specified <commit>. | |
318 | ||
ac3f5a34 ÆAB |
319 | - `--no-contains <commit>` is the inverse of that, i.e. branches that don't |
320 | contain the specified <commit>. | |
321 | ||
9a7ea2b1 LH |
322 | - `--merged` is used to find all branches which can be safely deleted, |
323 | since those branches are fully contained by HEAD. | |
324 | ||
325 | - `--no-merged` is used to find branches which are candidates for merging | |
326 | into HEAD, since those branches are not fully contained by HEAD. | |
1e2ccd3a | 327 | |
b85e6c5f NS |
328 | SEE ALSO |
329 | -------- | |
330 | linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1], | |
331 | linkgit:git-fetch[1], | |
bb35f35e JN |
332 | linkgit:git-remote[1], |
333 | link:user-manual.html#what-is-a-branch[``Understanding history: What is | |
334 | a branch?''] in the Git User's Manual. | |
b85e6c5f | 335 | |
7fc9d69f JH |
336 | GIT |
337 | --- | |
9e1f0a85 | 338 | Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite |