How to Create a New Branch in Git?

How to Create a New Branch in GIT?

Our first topic in the "How to create a new branch in git" series is Creating a new branch.

A new Git branch can be made in a variety of methods. It depends on whether you make a branch off the main branch or do something else, like a new commit or tag.

One of the common methods of creating a new branch is using the below command:

git branch <new_branch_name>

 

Now, to switch to the new branch, type the below command.

git checkout <new_branch_name>

 

You can create a new branch also and switch to the new one using a single command. Follow the below command to do so.

git checkout -b <branch-name>

 

Creating a New Branch From a Different Branch

In the series "How to Create a New Branch in Git," now we will now discuss the creation of a branch using a different branch. 

Using the command below, we can create a new branch from a different branch.

git checkout -b <new_branch> <specific_different_branch>

 

Give the name of the existing branch from which the new branch will be created in the specific_different_branch field.

Creating a New Branch From a Remote Branch

In the series "How to Create a New Branch in Git," now we will now discuss the creation of a new branch from a remort branch. 

Git remote branch is a way for a programmer to access a colleague's or collaborator's work for review and collaboration. You can use the "--track" option to use a remote branch as the core for your new local branch:

git branch --track <new-branch> origin/<base-branch>

 

When you are done with your new local branch for a while, you might wish to share it with your team by posting it in your remote repository. Follow the below command to do so.

git push -u origin <local-branch>

Here, the -u flag helps you to set a tracking connection.

Creating a New Branch From a Commit

In the series "How to Create a New Branch in Git," now we will now discuss the creation of a branch from a commit. 

Commits are the primary building block units of a Git project. A commit can be either a snapshot or a major plot point in a Git project's timeline. With the git commit command, commits are produced to record the current status of a project. A project may have multiple commits as it is revised and improved.

We can specify a specific commit via its hash. Check out the command below.

git branch <branch-name> <hash>

Creating a New Branch From a Tag

You can create a branch from a tag, much like a commit. This is helpful as, in my view, tags are a better way to identify a specific period in a project's history. Thus, you can create a new branch the same way you did, but with a tag acting as the identifier if you've produced tags throughout the history of your project.

$ git branch tag-branch v0.4.12 
$ git branch tag-branch * master

Create a Branch in a Remote Repository

Creating a branch in a remote repository involves a series of steps that enable you to work on features or fixes without affecting the main codebase. You can follow these steps to create a branch in a remote repository:

1. Clone the Repository: Begin by cloning the remote repository to your local machine using the git clone command. This establishes a local copy of the repository.

git clone <repository_url>

 

2. Navigate to the Repository: Move into the cloned repository directory using the cd command. 

cd <repository_directory>

 

3. Create a New Branch: Create a new branch using the git branch command. Replace <branch_name> with your desired branch name. 

git branch <branch_name>

 

4. Switch to the New Branch: Switch to the newly created branch using the git checkout or git switch command. 

git checkout <branch_name>
# OR
git switch <branch_name>

 

5. Push the New Branch to Remote: Push the newly created branch to the remote repository using the git push command. 

git push origin <branch_name>

 

Now, you've successfully created and pushed a new branch to the remote repository.

Create a Branch Using Detached HEAD State

Creating a branch using the detached HEAD state is a slightly different approach, useful for situations where you want to experiment with changes before committing to a new branch. You can follow these steps to create a branch using detached HEAD state:

1. Clone the Repository: Use the git clone command to clone the remote repository to your local machine.

git clone <repository_url>

 

2. Navigate to the Repository: Move into the cloned repository directory using the cd command.

cd <repository_directory>

 

3. Create a New Branch and Detach HEAD: Create a new branch and detach HEAD by using the git checkout command with the -b option.

git checkout -b <branch_name>

 

4. Make Changes and Commit: Make the desired changes to your code and commit them.

git add .
git commit -m "Your commit message"

 

5. Switch Back to the Main Branch: Switch back to the main branch (or another existing branch) using the git checkout or git switch command.

git checkout main
# OR
git switch main

 

6. Merge Changes: Merge the changes from the detached HEAD state branch into the main branch.

git merge <branch_name>

 

7. Push Changes to Remote: Push the changes, including the new branch, to the remote repository.

git push origin main

 

This process allows you to experiment with changes and then decide whether to create a new branch or integrate them directly into the main branch.

How it works?

In Git, branches are pointers to a specific commit in the repository's commit history. Each branch represents an independent line of development, allowing changes to be made without affecting the main codebase. When you create a new branch, Git creates a new pointer that can be moved forward with new commits. Branches facilitate parallel development, experimentation, and isolation of features or bug fixes. Merging branches combines their changes, and branches can be switched or merged to manage project development efficiently.

Advantages of Git Branch

In the series "How to Create a New Branch in Git," now we will now discuss the advantages of Git Branch. There are many advantages to using the Git branch command.

• This command can create new branches.
   
• Delete all the existing local or remote branches.
   
• Git branch command lists all local / or remote branches.
   
• It lists branches that haven't been merged yet.

 

Check out the most important Git Interview Questions here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you create a new empty branch in git?

Use the command git checkout --orphan <new_branch_name> to create a new empty branch in Git.

How do you create a new branch in git from existing changes?

Employ git checkout -b <new_branch_name> to create a new branch in Git from existing changes.

How do I create a new branch in git and push the code?

We can create and automatically switch to the created branch using the ‘git checkout -b <branch_name>’ command. After doing this and making changes in the branch, we can merge it with the master branch. For this, we use the ‘git merge <branch_name>’ command.

How do I create a new branch in an existing repository?

You can create a new branch with the command 'git branch'. Also, you can use the ‘git checkout -b <branch_name>’ command to create a new branch and switch to it.

Conclusion

This article discusses the topic of How to Create a New Branch in Git. In detail, we have seen what Git is and created a new branch in multiple ways. For example, from a different branch, from a remote branch, from a commit, and tag. At the end of the "How to Create a New Branch in Git" blog, we have also seen the advantages of a git branch.

We hope this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge of How to Create a New Branch in Git. If you want to learn more, then check out our articles.

• Git Change Command
   
• Git Branch Command
   
• Git Local Commands

 

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