git branch — Creating Branches

The git branch command lets you create, list, rename, and delete branches.

Creating a Branch

git branch feature

This creates a new branch called feature pointing at the current commit. It does not switch to it — you stay on your current branch.

Listing Branches

git branch

Shows all local branches. The current branch is marked with *.

Deleting a Branch

git branch -d feature

Deletes a branch that has been fully merged. Use -D (capital) to force-delete an unmerged branch.

Renaming a Branch

git branch -m old-name new-name

Try it!

Your repo has one commit on main. Your task:

1. Create a new branch: git branch feature
2. List branches to see both: git branch
3. Create a second branch: git branch bugfix
4. Check the branch list again: git branch

Watch the graph — all three branches point to the same commit because no new commits have been made yet.

Key Insight

Creating a branch is cheap and instant — it's just a 41-byte pointer. Branch early, branch often.