How to Make a New Branch in Git: A Complete Guide

Creating a new branch in Git is one of the most common tasks in version control — and one of the most powerful. Whether you're fixing a bug, building a feature, or experimenting with code, branching lets you work in isolation without touching the main codebase. Here's exactly how it works and what you need to know to use it confidently.

What Is a Git Branch?

A branch in Git is essentially a lightweight, movable pointer to a specific commit in your repository's history. When you create a branch, you're not duplicating the entire codebase — you're creating a new line of development that diverges from a common starting point.

The default branch in most repositories is called main (or master in older projects). Every other branch you create lives independently until you decide to merge it back.

This isolation is the core value of branching. Changes made on one branch don't affect any other branch until you explicitly merge or rebase them.

The Basic Command: git branch and git checkout

The most straightforward way to create a new branch uses the git branch command: