Create a Branch in Git from Another Branch

Better Stack Team
Updated on July 25, 2024

Creating a new branch in Git from another branch is a common operation and is straightforward to accomplish. Here’s how you can create a branch from another branch:

Creating a Branch from Another Branch

  1. Ensure You're on the Source Branch: Before creating a new branch from another branch, make sure you are on the branch from which you want to create the new branch. Use git checkout to switch to the source branch:

     
    git checkout source-branch
    

    Replace source-branch with the name of your current branch.

  2. Create a New Branch: To create a new branch from the current branch, use git branch followed by the new branch name:

     
    git branch new-branch-name
    

    Replace new-branch-name with the name you want to give to your new branch.

  3. Switch to the New Branch: Optionally, if you want to switch to the newly created branch immediately after creating it, use git checkout with the b option:

     
    git checkout -b new-branch-name
    

    This command combines the creation and checkout of the new branch in one step.

Example Scenario

Let's say you are currently on the main branch and want to create a new feature branch named feature/new-feature from it:

 
# Ensure you are on the main branch
git checkout main

# Create a new branch named feature/new-feature
git branch feature/new-feature

# Alternatively, create and switch to the new branch in one step
git checkout -b feature/new-feature

Now, you have successfully created a new branch feature/new-feature from the main branch. You can start making changes, committing them, and pushing this branch to the remote repository if needed.

Notes

  • Branch Naming: Choose meaningful names for your branches to maintain clarity and organization within your repository.
  • Commit and Push: Remember to commit your changes to the new branch (git commit) and push it to the remote repository (git push origin new-branch-name) if you want to share your changes with others.

By following these steps, you can effectively create a new branch in Git from another branch, enabling you to work on different features or changes independently.

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