gitlab-org--gitlab-foss/doc/gitlab-basics/create-branch.md

---
type: howto
---

# How to create a branch

A branch is an independent line of development in a [project](../user/project/index.md).

When you create a new branch (in your [terminal](basic-git-commands.md) or with
[the web interface](../user/project/repository/web_editor.md#create-a-new-branch)),
you are creating a snapshot of a certain branch, usually the main `master` branch,
at it's current state. From there, you can start to make your own changes without
affecting the main codebase. The history of your changes will be tracked in your branch.

When your changes are ready, you then merge them into the rest of the codebase with a
[merge request](add-merge-request.md).
First pass to bring /gitlab-basics to SSoT standards Removes duplicated information, and combines sections and files together when they are duplicated or highly related. Also adds intros to all pages and sections missing intros, and troubleshooting sections to pages that may need them in the future. Links more to other docs, and clarifies language when abosolutely necessary, and adds angle brackets to sample parameters. 2019-07-30 05:02:59 +00:00			`---`
			`type: howto`
			`---`

added new doc about creating a new branch 2015-07-09 22:33:42 +00:00			`# How to create a branch`

First pass to bring /gitlab-basics to SSoT standards Removes duplicated information, and combines sections and files together when they are duplicated or highly related. Also adds intros to all pages and sections missing intros, and troubleshooting sections to pages that may need them in the future. Links more to other docs, and clarifies language when abosolutely necessary, and adds angle brackets to sample parameters. 2019-07-30 05:02:59 +00:00			`A branch is an independent line of development in a [project](../user/project/index.md).`
added Fork Project document 2015-07-21 22:45:12 +00:00
First pass to bring /gitlab-basics to SSoT standards Removes duplicated information, and combines sections and files together when they are duplicated or highly related. Also adds intros to all pages and sections missing intros, and troubleshooting sections to pages that may need them in the future. Links more to other docs, and clarifies language when abosolutely necessary, and adds angle brackets to sample parameters. 2019-07-30 05:02:59 +00:00			`When you create a new branch (in your [terminal](basic-git-commands.md) or with`
			`[the web interface](../user/project/repository/web_editor.md#create-a-new-branch)),`
			you are creating a snapshot of a certain branch, usually the main `master` branch,
			`at it's current state. From there, you can start to make your own changes without`
			`affecting the main codebase. The history of your changes will be tracked in your branch.`
Reference the web editor docs in GitLab basics "Create a branch" 2016-10-11 05:21:47 +00:00
First pass to bring /gitlab-basics to SSoT standards Removes duplicated information, and combines sections and files together when they are duplicated or highly related. Also adds intros to all pages and sections missing intros, and troubleshooting sections to pages that may need them in the future. Links more to other docs, and clarifies language when abosolutely necessary, and adds angle brackets to sample parameters. 2019-07-30 05:02:59 +00:00			`When your changes are ready, you then merge them into the rest of the codebase with a`
			`[merge request](add-merge-request.md).`