[[def_detached_HEAD]]detached HEAD::
Normally the <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> stores the name of a
- <<def_branch,branch>>. However, Git also allows you to <<def_checkout,check out>>
- an arbitrary <<def_commit,commit>> that isn't necessarily the tip of any
- particular branch. In this case HEAD is said to be "detached".
+ <<def_branch,branch>>, and commands that operate on the
+ history HEAD represents operate on the history leading to the
+ tip of the branch the HEAD points at. However, Git also
+ allows you to <<def_checkout,check out>> an arbitrary
+ <<def_commit,commit>> that isn't necessarily the tip of any
+ particular branch. The HEAD in such a state is called
+ "detached".
++
+Note that commands that operate on the history of the current branch
+(e.g. `git commit` to build a new history on top of it) still work
+while the HEAD is detached. They update the HEAD to point at the tip
+of the updated history without affecting any branch. Commands that
+update or inquire information _about_ the current branch (e.g. `git
+branch --set-upstream-to` that sets what remote tracking branch the
+current branch integrates with) obviously do not work, as there is no
+(real) current branch to ask about in this state.
[[def_directory]]directory::
The list you get with "ls" :-)
<<def_ref,ref>> and local ref.
[[def_remote_tracking_branch]]remote-tracking branch::
- A regular Git <<def_branch,branch>> that is used to follow changes from
- another <<def_repository,repository>>. A remote-tracking
- branch should not contain direct modifications or have local commits
- made to it. A remote-tracking branch can usually be
- identified as the right-hand-side <<def_ref,ref>> in a Pull:
- <<def_refspec,refspec>>.
+ A <<def_ref,ref>> that is used to follow changes from another
+ <<def_repository,repository>>. It typically looks like
+ 'refs/remotes/foo/bar' (indicating that it tracks a branch named
+ 'bar' in a remote named 'foo'), and matches the right-hand-side of
+ a configured fetch <<def_refspec,refspec>>. A remote-tracking
+ branch should not contain direct modifications or have local
+ commits made to it.
[[def_repository]]repository::
A collection of <<def_ref,refs>> together with an
<<def_merge,merge>> left behind.
[[def_revision]]revision::
- A particular state of files and directories which was stored in the
- <<def_object_database,object database>>. It is referenced by a
- <<def_commit_object,commit object>>.
+ Synonym for <<def_commit,commit>> (the noun).
[[def_rewind]]rewind::
To throw away part of the development, i.e. to assign the