Branch
A named line of version-control history used to develop changes independently before or alongside integration.
Plain English
A separate path of code changes within the same repository.
In context
Branches support isolated work and review but long-lived divergence increases integration and merge complexity.
Example
“The fix is ready on a short-lived branch linked to the issue.”
When you'll hear this
- development
- code review
- release maintenance
Common misunderstanding
A branch is not a separate repository and merging it does not automatically deploy the change.
Also known as
git branchfeature branch
Commonly used by
Related terms
Updated: 2026-08-27
