Create and delete branches

Now you can create and delete branches from GitHub.com.

Create a branch

In your repository’s branch selector, just start typing a new branch name. We’ll give you the option to create a new branch:

We’ll branch off of your current context. For example, if you’re on the bugfix branch, we’ll create a new branch from bugfix instead of master. Looking at a commit or a tag instead? We’ll branch your code from that specific revision.

Delete a branch

You’ll also see a delete button in your repository’s Branches page:

As an added bonus, we’ll also give you a link to the branch’s Pull Request, if it has one.

Collaborate without the terminal

For small changes like documentation fixes, typos, or if you’re just a walking software compiler, you can get a lot done in your browser without needing to clone the entire repository to your computer:

• Create a new branch from the new-and-improved branch selector
• Edit a file with your changes (or create a new file)
• Send a Pull Request and get it merged in one click
• Delete the branch from the Pull Request or, as of today, delete it from your Branches page
• And if you discover you didn’t want to delete that branch quite yet, yesterday we added the ability to restore a deleted branch

Happy branching!

Written by

Zach Holman

@holman