This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Git Branches ====== **Git branches** are essentially pointers to a snapshot of your project at a specific point in time. They allow you to work on different features or bug fixes independently without affecting the main codebase. ==== Key Concepts ==== * **Branch creation:** Creates a new branch from the current commit. * **Branch switching:** Changes the working directory to match the state of a different branch. * **Branch merging:** Combines changes from one branch into another. * **Branch deletion:** Removes a branch that is no longer needed. ==== Common Use Cases ==== * **Feature development:** Create a branch for each new feature to isolate changes. * **Bug fixing:** Create a branch to fix a specific bug without affecting the main codebase. * **Experimentation:** Try out new ideas or approaches without risking the main project. * **Collaboration:** Different developers can work on different branches simultaneously. ==== Basic Commands ==== * **Create a new branch:** git branch <branch_name> * **Switch to a branch:** git checkout <branch_name> * **Create and switch to a branch:** git checkout -b <branch_name> * **List all branches:** git branch * **Merge a branch:** git merge <branch_name> * **Delete a branch:** git branch -d <branch_name> ==== Best Practices ==== * **Frequent commits:** Commit changes regularly to preserve your work. * **Descriptive branch names:** Use clear and informative names for your branches. * **Keep branches up-to-date:** Regularly merge changes from the main branch into your feature branches. * **Review before merging:** Carefully review changes before merging them into the main branch. ==== Visual Representation ==== {{ :git-branching.png?nolink&600 |}} By effectively utilizing Git branches, you can improve your development workflow, reduce conflicts, and collaborate more efficiently with others.