Renaming Git Branches

In this article, I'll discuss the process of renaming Git branches. This includes renaming an existing branch as well as renaming the branch that is currently checked out.

Renaming an Existing Branch

Before renaming a Git branch, it's crucial to understand what it means to rename a branch and why one might want to do so. Branches are used to isolate changes for specific features or tasks, and a well-chosen name can make it easier to understand the branch's purpose at a glance. Renaming a branch might be necessary if the purpose of the branch changes, or if the original name was poorly chosen.

Syntax

To rename an existing branch, the following syntax is used:

$ git branch -m <old_branch_name> <new_branch_name>

Example

Consider the scenario where we have a branch named feature1 and we want to rename it to feature-redesign. We can do this by running the following command:

$ git branch -m feature1 feature-redesign

Renaming the Currently Checked-Out Branch

Git allows you to rename the currently checked-out branch without having to switch branches.

Syntax

To rename the currently checked-out branch, you only need to provide the new name. The syntax is as follows:

$ git branch -m <new_branch_name>

Example

Suppose you are currently on a branch named feature1 and you want to rename it to feature-redesign. You can achieve this by running the following command:

$ git branch -m feature-redesign

This command will rename the current branch to feature-redesign.