It is used to specify with what <src> object the <dst> ref
in the remote repository is to be updated.
+
-The <src> side represents the source branch (or arbitrary
-"SHA1 expression", such as `master~4` (four parents before the
-tip of `master` branch); see linkgit:git-rev-parse[1]) that you
-want to push. The <dst> side represents the destination location.
+The <src> is often the name of the branch you would want to push, but
+it can be any arbitrary "SHA-1 expression", such as `master~4` or
+`HEAD` (see linkgit:git-rev-parse[1]).
+
-The local ref that matches <src> is used
-to fast forward the remote ref that matches <dst>. If
-the optional leading plus `+` is used, the remote ref is updated
-even if it does not result in a fast forward update.
+The <dst> tells which ref on the remote side is updated with this
+push. Arbitrary expressions cannot be used here, an actual ref must
+be named. If `:`<dst> is omitted, the same ref as <src> will be
+updated.
+
-`tag <tag>` means the same as `refs/tags/<tag>:refs/tags/<tag>`.
+The object referenced by <src> is used to fast forward the ref <dst>
+on the remote side. If the optional leading plus `{plus}` is used, the
+remote ref is updated even if it does not result in a fast forward
+update.
+
-A lonely <src> parameter (without a colon and a destination) pushes
-the <src> to the same name in the destination repository.
+`tag <tag>` means the same as `refs/tags/<tag>:refs/tags/<tag>`.
+
Pushing an empty <src> allows you to delete the <dst> ref from
the remote repository.
with it. If `master` did not exist remotely, it would be
created.
-git push origin :experimental::
- Find a ref that matches `experimental` in the `origin` repository
- (e.g. `refs/heads/experimental`), and delete it.
+git push origin HEAD::
+ A handy way to push the current branch to the same name on the
+ remote.
git push origin master:satellite/master dev:satellite/dev::
Use the source ref that matches `master` (e.g. `refs/heads/master`)
`refs/remotes/satellite/master`) in the `origin` repository, then
do the same for `dev` and `satellite/dev`.
+git push origin HEAD:master::
+ Push the current branch to the remote ref matching `master` in the
+ `origin` repository. This form is convenient to push the current
+ branch without thinking about its local name.
+
git push origin master:refs/heads/experimental::
Create the branch `experimental` in the `origin` repository
by copying the current `master` branch. This form is only
the local name and the remote name are different; otherwise,
the ref name on its own will work.
+git push origin :experimental::
+ Find a ref that matches `experimental` in the `origin` repository
+ (e.g. `refs/heads/experimental`), and delete it.
+
+
Author
------
Written by Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>, later rewritten in C