Git - Local branch

About

A local branch is a branch that exists only on your computer.

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Type

There are two types of local branches:

• non-tracking local branches. They are not associated with any other branch.
• and tracking local branches. Tracking local branches allow you to run git pull and git push, without specifying which upstream branch to use.

Management

Create

Non-tracking local branches

git branch <branchNameToCreate> [<start-point>]
# example
git branch branchName1 branchName2

where:

• start point may be:
  • branch name (ie last commit id of the branch)
  • a commit-id (HEAD is also supported)
  • or a tag (the last commit of the tag)

Example:

• Shortcut to create and checkout with the -b option of the checkout command

git checkout -b branchName

Local Tracking branch

• Tracking Local branch

git branch branchname <remote/branch>
git branch --track <branchname> [<start-point]

# example
git branch --track branch_name origin/branch_name

See

• All

git branch

* branch_name
  master

• All with tracking option

git branch -vv

* branch_tracked 95cf879 [origin/branch_name] * Commit message
  master      f3c6174 [origin/master] * Pull Request 
  branch_not_tracked c750e03ed  * Commit message 2

Delete

git branch -d <branchname>

# Force
git branch -D <branchname>

Paths

Each local branch has a refs file under .git/refs/heads/

Rename

git branch (-m|--move) <oldbranch> <newbranch>

Example: rename master to main

git branch -m master main

List

git branch -l -vv