SYNOPSIS
--------
[verse]
-'git checkout' [-q] [-f] [-m] [-b <new_branch>] [<branch>]
+'git checkout' [-q] [-f] [-m] [<branch>]
+'git checkout' [-q] [-f] [-m] [-b <new_branch>] [<start_point>]
'git checkout' [-f|--ours|--theirs|-m|--conflict=<style>] [<tree-ish>] [--] <paths>...
+'git checkout' --patch [<tree-ish>] [--] [<paths>...]
DESCRIPTION
-----------
When <paths> are not given, this command switches branches by
-updating the index and working tree to reflect the specified
-branch, <branch>, and updating HEAD to be <branch> or, if
-specified, <new_branch>. Using -b will cause <new_branch> to
-be created as if linkgit:git-branch[1] were called; in this case you can
-use the --track or --no-track options, which will be passed to `git
-branch`.
+updating the index, working tree, and HEAD to reflect the specified
+branch.
-As a convenience, --track will default to creating a branch whose
-name is constructed from the specified branch name by stripping
-the first namespace level.
+If `-b` is given, a new branch is created and checked out, as if
+linkgit:git-branch[1] were called; in this case you can
+use the --track or --no-track options, which will be passed to `git
+branch`. As a convenience, --track without `-b` implies branch
+creation; see the description of --track below.
-When <paths> are given, this command does *not* switch
+When <paths> or --patch are given, this command does *not* switch
branches. It updates the named paths in the working tree from
the index file, or from a named <tree-ish> (most often a commit). In
this case, the `-b` and `--track` options are meaningless and giving
OPTIONS
-------
-q::
+--quiet::
Quiet, suppress feedback messages.
-f::
+--force::
When switching branches, proceed even if the index or the
working tree differs from HEAD. This is used to throw away
local changes.
-b::
Create a new branch named <new_branch> and start it at
- <branch>; see linkgit:git-branch[1] for details.
+ <start_point>; see linkgit:git-branch[1] for details.
-t::
--track::
"merge" (default) and "diff3" (in addition to what is shown by
"merge" style, shows the original contents).
+-p::
+--patch::
+ Interactively select hunks in the difference between the
+ <tree-ish> (or the index, if unspecified) and the working
+ tree. The chosen hunks are then applied in reverse to the
+ working tree (and if a <tree-ish> was specified, the index).
++
+This means that you can use `git checkout -p` to selectively discard
+edits from your current working tree.
+
+<branch>::
+ Branch to checkout; if it refers to a branch (i.e., a name that,
+ when prepended with "refs/heads/", is a valid ref), then that
+ branch is checked out. Otherwise, if it refers to a valid
+ commit, your HEAD becomes "detached" and you are no longer on
+ any branch (see below for details).
++
+As a special case, the `"@\{-N\}"` syntax for the N-th last branch
+checks out the branch (instead of detaching). You may also specify
+`-` which is synonymous with `"@\{-1\}"`.
+
<new_branch>::
Name for the new branch.
+<start_point>::
+ The name of a commit at which to start the new branch; see
+ linkgit:git-branch[1] for details. Defaults to HEAD.
+
<tree-ish>::
Tree to checkout from (when paths are given). If not specified,
the index will be used.
-<branch>::
- Branch to checkout (when no paths are given); may be any object
- ID that resolves to a commit. Defaults to HEAD.
-+
-When this parameter names a non-branch (but still a valid commit object),
-your HEAD becomes 'detached'.
-+
-As a special case, the `"@\{-N\}"` syntax for the N-th last branch
-checks out the branch (instead of detaching). You may also specify
-`-` which is synonymous with `"@\{-1\}"`.
Detached HEAD