[[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" :-)