What is git branch used for?

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks and coordinates work among developers by managing changes to project code. Branch is an important concept in Git, used to manage different versions of code. This article will explore the basic concepts of Git branches and their uses.

What is a Git branch?

In Git, a branch is like a pointer to a specific commit. Each commit will advance along the current branch. In layman's terms, a branch is a pointer to a single commit record in the commit history.

Each commit will update the pointer referenced by the current branch to keep it pointing to the latest commit. When you create a new branch, Git simply creates a new pointer to a commit in the commit history, pointing to an independent subset.

This makes Git branches very suitable for different needs in code development, such as experimental development, bug fixing, multiple development tasks at the same time, etc.

Purpose of Git branch

1. Experimental development

When developing new features, sometimes experimental development is required, such as when developing new features Add new features on the basis, or try new development methods. Git branches allow developers to use an independent branch for experimental development without affecting current production code.

If the experiment is successful, the experimental branch can be merged into the master branch for production environment. Otherwise, the branch can be abandoned without affecting the main branch.

2. Fix Defects

When you find a defect in the code, you can create an independent branch based on the current code base to fix it. Fixing a defect may require modifying multiple files, so independent branches can remain undisturbed without impacting the production codebase.

After the fix is ​​complete, the branch can be merged into the master branch so that the production code contains the fixed defect.

3. Multi-tasking development

In a development team, different developers may be working on different tasks. Each task can be developed using an independent branch and merged at any time. This approach improves team collaboration while maintaining clarity in the codebase.

For example, some developers may be responsible for front-end design and others for back-end development. They can develop separately using independent branches and merge their work when appropriate.

4. Version Control

Git branches can also be used to manage and track code versions. They can serve as milestones for the code base, marking the version of the code base at a specific point in time. This is useful for deploying, releasing, and rolling back code, as it ensures that the same version of the code is always used in the live environment.

Summary

Git branches are a very useful feature that can help developers manage and organize code bases, while facilitating code review and integration in different development and collaboration environments. The use of branches can also improve daily work efficiency by improving code quality, avoiding errors, and reducing conflicts. For this reason, it is very important for both beginners and advanced users of Git to understand and use branches skillfully.

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