Git Change The Current Branch Name

4 min read Oct 08, 2024

Git: Changing Branch Names

Have you ever found yourself working on a branch in Git and realized you need to rename it? Maybe the original name wasn't descriptive enough, or you've decided to take a different approach with your work. Luckily, Git provides a straightforward way to change a branch name.

Understanding the Process

Renaming a branch in Git involves two key steps:

Creating a new branch with the desired name.
Moving (or "checking out") your changes to the newly created branch.

The existing branch with the old name will remain, but it will be empty and effectively "abandoned."

How to Rename a Branch

Check Out the Branch You Want to Rename:
```
git checkout  
```
Replace <current_branch_name> with the actual name of the branch you wish to rename.
Rename the Branch:
```
git branch -m  
```
Replace <old_branch_name> with the current name of the branch and <new_branch_name> with the desired new name.
Check Out the Newly Renamed Branch (Optional):
```
git checkout 
```
This step is optional, but it ensures that you're now working on the renamed branch.

Example: Renaming a Branch

Imagine you're working on a feature called "user-profiles." You initially created a branch named "feature-user-profile," but you've realized that "user-profiles" is a more appropriate name.

Check Out the Branch:
```
git checkout feature-user-profile
```

Rename the Branch:

git branch -m feature-user-profile user-profiles

Check Out the Renamed Branch (Optional):
```
git checkout user-profiles
```

Now, your branch is successfully renamed to "user-profiles."

Key Points to Remember

Deleting the Original Branch: While the old branch still exists, it's generally a good practice to delete it to avoid confusion. You can do this with the following command:
```
git branch -d 
```
Pushing the Changes: If you've already pushed the original branch to a remote repository, you'll need to push the renamed branch as well.
```
git push origin  
```
Renaming a Branch with Untracked Changes: If you have untracked changes in your working directory, you should commit them before renaming the branch to ensure all your work is preserved.

Conclusion

Changing a branch name in Git is a simple process, but it's important to understand the steps involved and the implications of renaming a branch. By following these guidelines, you can easily update your branches to reflect accurate and descriptive names, leading to a more organized and efficient workflow.