DEV Community

Ashwani Singh
Ashwani Singh

Posted on • Updated on

Git Branches: List, Create, Switch to, Merge, Push, & Delete

''

See What Branch You're On

git status
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

To see local branches, run this command

git branch
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

To see remote branches, run this command

git branch -r
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

To see all local and remote branches, run this command

git branch -a
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Create a New Branch

git checkout -b my-branch-name
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Switch to a Branch In Your Local Repo

git checkout my-branch-name
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Switch to a Branch That Came From a Remote Repo

**To get a list of all branches from the remote, run this command:**

git pull

**Run this command to switch to the branch:**

git checkout --track origin/my-branch-name

Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Push to a Branch

**If your local branch does not exist on the remote, run either of these commands:**

git push -u origin my-branch-name
git push -u origin HEAD

**NOTE: HEAD is a reference to the top of the current branch, so it's an easy way to push to a branch of the same name on the remote. This saves you from having to type out the exact name of the branch!**

**If your local branch already exists on the remote, run this command:**

git push
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Merge a Branch

**You'll want to make sure your working tree is clean and see what branch you're on. Run this command:**

git status

**First, you must check out the branch that you want to merge another branch into (changes will be merged into this branch). If you're not already on the desired branch, run this command:**

git checkout master

**NOTE: Replace master with another branch name as needed.**

**Now you can merge another branch into the current branch. Run this command:**

git merge my-branch-name

**NOTE: When you merge, there may be a conflict. Refer to Handling Merge Conflicts (the next exercise) to learn what to do**
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Delete Branches

**To delete a remote branch, run this command:**

git push origin --delete my-branch-name

**To delete a local branch, run either of these commands:**

git branch -d my-branch-name
git branch -D my-branch-name

**NOTE: The -d option only deletes the branch if it has already been merged. The -D option is a shortcut for --delete --force, which deletes the branch irrespective of its merged status**
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Want to push latest code into a particular branch but on that branch another developer is already updated his code, it means you need to take first pull request and then push your code. But when you will take pull and hit push request you will getting a error that "far behind"

git stash
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

then take a pull request

git pull -origin 'branch name'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

after taking pull request, apply stash

git stash apply
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

after this you are on the current stage of your branch then you will successfully hit push request.

gut push -origin 'branch name'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Top comments (0)