Branch
An independent line of development in Git that allows developers to work on features, fixes, or experiments without affecting the main codebase.
Definicao
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).
Por que e importante
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.
Exemplo
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.