Branches API

Tier: Free, Premium, Ultimate Offering: GitLab.com, Self-managed, GitLab Dedicated

This API operates on repository branches.

See also Protected branches API.

List repository branches

Get a list of repository branches from a project, sorted by name alphabetically.

note
This endpoint can be accessed without authentication if the repository is publicly accessible.
GET /projects/:id/repository/branches

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes ID or URL-encoded path of the project.
search string no Return list of branches containing the search string. Use ^term to find branches that begin with term, and term$ to find branches that end with term.
regex string no Return list of branches with names matching a re2 regular expression.

Example request: 

curl --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" \
  --url "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/5/repository/branches"

Example response: 

[
  {
    "name": "main",
    "merged": false,
    "protected": true,
    "default": true,
    "developers_can_push": false,
    "developers_can_merge": false,
    "can_push": true,
    "web_url": "https://gitlab.example.com/my-group/my-project/-/tree/main",
    "commit": {
      "id": "7b5c3cc8be40ee161ae89a06bba6229da1032a0c",
      "short_id": "7b5c3cc",
      "created_at": "2012-06-28T03:44:20-07:00",
      "parent_ids": [
        "4ad91d3c1144c406e50c7b33bae684bd6837faf8"
      ],
      "title": "add projects API",
      "message": "add projects API",
      "author_name": "John Smith",
      "author_email": "john@example.com",
      "authored_date": "2012-06-27T05:51:39-07:00",
      "committer_name": "John Smith",
      "committer_email": "john@example.com",
      "committed_date": "2012-06-28T03:44:20-07:00",
      "trailers": {},
      "web_url": "https://gitlab.example.com/my-group/my-project/-/commit/7b5c3cc8be40ee161ae89a06bba6229da1032a0c"
    }
  },
  ...
]

Get single repository branch

Get a single project repository branch.

note
This endpoint can be accessed without authentication if the repository is publicly accessible.
GET /projects/:id/repository/branches/:branch

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer or string yes ID or URL-encoded path of the project.
branch string yes URL-encoded name of the branch.

Example request: 

curl --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" \
  --url "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/5/repository/branches/main"

Example response: 

{
  "name": "main",
  "merged": false,
  "protected": true,
  "default": true,
  "developers_can_push": false,
  "developers_can_merge": false,
  "can_push": true,
  "web_url": "https://gitlab.example.com/my-group/my-project/-/tree/main",
  "commit": {
    "id": "7b5c3cc8be40ee161ae89a06bba6229da1032a0c",
    "short_id": "7b5c3cc",
    "created_at": "2012-06-28T03:44:20-07:00",
    "parent_ids": [
      "4ad91d3c1144c406e50c7b33bae684bd6837faf8"
    ],
    "title": "add projects API",
    "message": "add projects API",
    "author_name": "John Smith",
    "author_email": "john@example.com",
    "authored_date": "2012-06-27T05:51:39-07:00",
    "committer_name": "John Smith",
    "committer_email": "john@example.com",
    "committed_date": "2012-06-28T03:44:20-07:00",
    "trailers": {},
    "web_url": "https://gitlab.example.com/my-group/my-project/-/commit/7b5c3cc8be40ee161ae89a06bba6229da1032a0c"
  }
}

Protect repository branch

See POST /projects/:id/protected_branches for information on protecting repository branches.

Unprotect repository branch

See DELETE /projects/:id/protected_branches/:name for information on unprotecting repository branches.

Create repository branch

Create a new branch in the repository. 

POST /projects/:id/repository/branches

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer yes ID or URL-encoded path of the project.
branch string yes Name of the branch.
ref string yes Branch name or commit SHA to create branch from.

Example request: 

curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" \
  --url "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/5/repository/branches?branch=newbranch&ref=main"

Example response: 

{
  "commit": {
    "id": "7b5c3cc8be40ee161ae89a06bba6229da1032a0c",
    "short_id": "7b5c3cc",
    "created_at": "2012-06-28T03:44:20-07:00",
    "parent_ids": [
      "4ad91d3c1144c406e50c7b33bae684bd6837faf8"
    ],
    "title": "add projects API",
    "message": "add projects API",
    "author_name": "John Smith",
    "author_email": "john@example.com",
    "authored_date": "2012-06-27T05:51:39-07:00",
    "committer_name": "John Smith",
    "committer_email": "john@example.com",
    "committed_date": "2012-06-28T03:44:20-07:00",
    "trailers": {},
    "web_url": "https://gitlab.example.com/my-group/my-project/-/commit/7b5c3cc8be40ee161ae89a06bba6229da1032a0c"
  },
  "name": "newbranch",
  "merged": false,
  "protected": false,
  "default": false,
  "developers_can_push": false,
  "developers_can_merge": false,
  "can_push": true,
  "web_url": "https://gitlab.example.com/my-group/my-project/-/tree/newbranch"
}

Delete repository branch

Delete a branch from the repository.

note
In the case of an error, an explanation message is provided.
DELETE /projects/:id/repository/branches/:branch

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer/string yes ID or URL-encoded path of the project.
branch string yes Name of the branch.

Example request: 

curl --request DELETE --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" \
  --url "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/5/repository/branches/newbranch"

Delete merged branches

Deletes all branches that are merged into the project’s default branch.

note
Protected branches are not deleted as part of this operation.
DELETE /projects/:id/repository/merged_branches

Parameters:

Attribute Type Required Description
id integer/string yes ID or URL-encoded path of the project.

Example request: 

curl --request DELETE --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" \
  --url "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/5/repository/merged_branches"