Branches
Open a repository's Branches tab to browse branches or find work to review. You need read access to the repository. The history icon opens Branch activity, with Creations and Deletions tabs.
Each row shows the branch name (linking to the file tree at that branch), the
branch's latest commit (short hash linking to the commit page, plus its
summary), and who committed it and when. The repository's default branch is
marked default. Branches that are the head of an open pull request show a
#number link to that pull request.
"All branches" lists every branch. "Your branches" keeps only the branches whose latest commit was authored with your account's email address.
Type in the search box to filter branches by name. Pages hold up to 100 branches; use Previous and Next to move between them.
Open this page from the Branches tab in the repository header, or from the ref switcher on the Code and commit history pages ("View all branches").
Create a branch
Sign in with repository write access, then select New branch. Enter a branch
name and choose a source branch, a full refs/tags/ name, or a full commit hash.
Load source captures its exact commit and the current repository settings.
Select Create branch. Later changes to the source do not change that captured
commit. Repository creation rules and GitHub/fork policies still apply.
The Creations tab in Branch activity lists your latest 30 requests. A pending or unknown result does not prove failure. Use Inspect to reconcile the existing request; do not submit another request because a response was lost. If repository settings changed before admission, edit the preserved draft and load the source again. Existing branch names are never overwritten.
Each draft retains its own request identity. Activity only unlocks that draft after its exact request has completed; an absent status or another request for the same branch does not settle it. Confirmed creation lets you start a fresh draft. A definitive failure lets you edit the preserved draft and reload its source before trying again.
Limits:
- Ahead/behind counts against the default branch are not shown.
- "Your branches" filters the current page only.
- Pull request lookup is scoped to the displayed branches. When it fails, retry the lookup before using New pull request on an eligible non-default branch.
- File editing and creating commits in the browser are not supported. Eligible branches can be deleted with confirmation; deletion activity tracks the outcome. Default branches and branches used by open pulls cannot be deleted.