How to use the command `git rename-branch` (with examples)

git rename-branch is a command that allows you to rename a Git branch. It is part of the git-extras package, which provides additional git commands. The git rename-branch command is used to change the name of a branch, whether it’s the branch you are currently on or a specific branch.

Use case 1: Rename the branch you are currently on

Code:

git rename-branch new_branch_name

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to update the name of the branch you are currently working on to reflect a more meaningful or descriptive name. This can improve code navigation and understanding when collaborating with others.

Explanation: In this use case, the new_branch_name argument represents the desired new name for the branch you are currently on. This argument replaces the old branch name.

Example output: If you were on a branch called feature/foo and you run git rename-branch new_feature_branch, the output would be:

Renamed branch feature/foo to new_feature_branch

Use case 2: Rename a specific branch

Code:

git rename-branch old_branch_name new_branch_name

Motivation: The motivation for using this use case is to change the name of a specific branch to something more meaningful or descriptive. This is particularly useful when working with long-lived branches or when the current branch is not the branch you want to rename.

Explanation: In this use case, the old_branch_name argument represents the name of the branch you want to rename, while the new_branch_name argument represents the desired new name for the branch. This command will rename the specified branch to the new name.

Example output: If you want to rename a branch called feature/bar to feature/baz, you would run git rename-branch feature/bar feature/baz. The output would be:

Renamed branch feature/bar to feature/baz

Conclusion:

The git rename-branch command is a useful tool for updating branch names to improve code navigation and collaboration. Whether you want to change the name of the branch you are currently on or a specific branch, this command allows you to easily rename your Git branches.