Git Create Branch

Create a new Git branch with proper naming and checkout.

When to Use

• Starting a new feature

• Creating a bug fix branch

• Starting work on a specific issue

• Any request to "create a branch" or "checkout new branch"

Branch Naming Conventions

Use these prefixes for clarity:

• feature/

• New features (e.g., feature/add-login )

• fix/

• Bug fixes (e.g., fix/login-error )

• hotfix/

• Urgent production fixes (e.g., hotfix/critical-bug )

• refactor/

• Code refactoring (e.g., refactor/auth-module )

• docs/

• Documentation changes (e.g., docs/api-guide )

• test/

• Test additions/changes (e.g., test/auth-tests )

• chore/

• Maintenance tasks (e.g., chore/update-deps )

Workflow

1. Check Current State

git status git branch --show-current

2. Create and Checkout Branch

From current HEAD:

git checkout -b <branch-name>

From specific base branch:

git checkout -b <branch-name> <base-branch>

3. Verify Creation

git branch --show-current git log --oneline -3

Examples

Create feature branch from main:

git checkout -b feature/user-profile main

Create fix branch from current position:

git checkout -b fix/validation-error

Create branch for specific issue:

git checkout -b feature/issue-123-add-search

Best Practices

• Use descriptive names: feature/add-dark-mode not feature/dark

• Keep names concise but clear

• Use kebab-case (hyphens, not underscores)

• Include issue numbers when applicable: fix/#456-memory-leak

• Always verify you're on the new branch before making changes