by the source ref, followed by a colon `:`, followed by
the destination ref.
+
-The <src> side can be an
-arbitrary "SHA1 expression" that can be used as an
-argument to `git-cat-file -t`. E.g. `master~4` (push
-four parents before the current master head).
+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 local ref that matches <src> is used
-to fast forward the remote ref that matches <dst>. If
-the optional plus `+` is used, the remote ref is updated
+to fast forward the remote ref that matches <dst> (or, if no <dst> was
+specified, the same ref that <src> referred to locally). If
+the optional leading plus `+` is used, the remote ref is updated
even if it does not result in a fast forward update.
+
-Note: If no explicit refspec is found, (that is neither
-on the command line nor in any Push line of the
-corresponding remotes file---see below), then "matching" heads are
-pushed: for every head that exists on the local side, the remote side is
-updated if a head of the same name already exists on the remote side.
-+
`tag <tag>` means the same as `refs/tags/<tag>:refs/tags/<tag>`.
+
A parameter <ref> without a colon pushes the <ref> from the source
+
Pushing an empty <src> allows you to delete the <dst> ref from
the remote repository.
++
+The special refspec `:` (or `+:` to allow non-fast forward updates)
+directs git to push "matching" heads: for every head that exists on
+the local side, the remote side is updated if a head of the same name
+already exists on the remote side. This is the default operation mode
+if no explicit refspec is found (that is neither on the command line
+nor in any Push line of the corresponding remotes file---see below).
\--all::
Instead of naming each ref to push, specifies that all
Find a ref that matches `master` in the source repository
(most likely, it would find `refs/heads/master`), and update
the same ref (e.g. `refs/heads/master`) in `origin` repository
- with it.
+ 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
git push origin master:refs/heads/experimental::
Create the branch `experimental` in the `origin` repository
- by copying the current `master` branch. This form is usually
- needed to create a new branch in the remote repository as
- there is no `experimental` branch to match.
+ by copying the current `master` branch. This form is only
+ needed to create a new branch or tag in the remote repository when
+ the local name and the remote name are different; otherwise,
+ the ref name on its own will work.
Author
------
GIT
---
-Part of the linkgit:git[7] suite
+Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite