Branch
An independent line of development in Git that allows developers to work on features, fixes, or experiments without affecting the main codebase.
Definition
A branch in Git is a lightweight movable pointer to a commit. The default branch is typically "main" or "master". Feature branches allow parallel development — multiple developers can work on different features simultaneously. Common branch types include: feature branches (new functionality), bugfix branches (fixes), release branches (preparing releases), and hotfix branches (urgent production fixes).
Pourquoi c'est important
Branching enables safe experimentation and parallel work. Teams can develop multiple features simultaneously, test changes in isolation, and merge only when ready. Proper branching strategies prevent conflicts and maintain a stable main branch.
Exemple
A developer creates a feature branch: git checkout -b feature/user-authentication. They make commits, push to remote, and create a pull request to merge back into main after review.