Create a Git branch for your changes

A branch is a copy of the files in the repository at the time you create the branch. You can work in your branch without affecting other branches. When you’re ready to add your changes to the main codebase, you can merge your branch into the default branch, for example, main.

Use branches when you:

  • Want to add code to a project but you’re not sure if it works properly.
  • Are collaborating on the project with others, and don’t want your work to get mixed up.

A new branch is often called feature branch to differentiate from the default branch.

Create a branch

To create a feature branch: 

git checkout -b <name-of-branch>

GitLab enforces branch naming rules to prevent problems, and provides branch naming patterns to streamline merge request creation.

Switch to a branch

All work in Git is done in a branch. You can switch between branches to see the state of the files and work in that branch.

To switch to an existing branch: 

git checkout <name-of-branch>

For example, to change to the main branch: 

git checkout main

Keep a branch up-to-date

Your branch does not automatically include changes merged to the default branch from other branches. To include changes merged after you created your branch, you must update your branch manually.

To update your branch with the latest changes in the default branch, either:

  • Run git rebase to rebase your branch against the default branch. Use this command when you want your changes to be listed in Git logs after the changes from the default branch.
  • Run git pull <remote-name> <default-branch-name>. Use this command when you want your changes to appear in Git logs in chronological order with the changes from the default branch, or if you’re sharing your branch with others. If you’re unsure of the correct value for <remote-name>, run: git remote.