SYNOPSIS
--------
-'git-checkout' [-f] [-b <new_branch>] [-m] [<branch>] [<paths>...]
+[verse]
+'git-checkout' [-f] [-b <new_branch> [-l]] [-m] [<branch>]
+'git-checkout' [-m] [<branch>] <paths>...
DESCRIPTION
-----------
-When <paths> are not given, this command switches branches, by
+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>.
+specified, <new_branch>. Using -b will cause <new_branch> to
+be created.
When <paths> are given, this command does *not* switch
branches. It updates the named paths in the working tree from
OPTIONS
-------
-f::
- Force an re-read of everything.
+ Force a re-read of everything.
-b::
- Create a new branch and start it at <branch>.
+ Create a new branch named <new_branch> and start it at
+ <branch>. The new branch name must pass all checks defined
+ by gitlink:git-check-ref-format[1]. Some of these checks
+ may restrict the characters allowed in a branch name.
+
+-l::
+ Create the new branch's ref log. This activates recording of
+ all changes to made the branch ref, enabling use of date
+ based sha1 expressions such as "<branchname>@{yesterday}".
-m::
- If you have local modifications to a file that is
- different between the current branch and the branch you
- are switching to, the command refuses to switch
- branches, to preserve your modifications in context.
- With this option, a three-way merge between the current
+ If you have local modifications to one or more files that
+ are different between the current branch and the branch to
+ which you are switching, the command refuses to switch
+ branches in order to preserve your modifications in context.
+ However, with this option, a three-way merge between the current
branch, your working tree contents, and the new branch
is done, and you will be on the new branch.
+
mistake, and gets it back from the index.
+
------------
-$ git checkout master <1>
-$ git checkout master~2 Makefile <2>
+$ git checkout master <1>
+$ git checkout master~2 Makefile <2>
$ rm -f hello.c
-$ git checkout hello.c <3>
-
+$ git checkout hello.c <3>
+------------
++
<1> switch branch
<2> take out a file out of other commit
-<3> or "git checkout -- hello.c", as in the next example.
-------------
+<3> restore hello.c from HEAD of current branch
+
-If you have an unfortunate branch that is named `hello.c`, the
-last step above would be confused as an instruction to switch to
-that branch. You should instead write:
+If you have an unfortunate branch that is named `hello.c`, this
+step would be confused as an instruction to switch to that branch.
+You should instead write:
+
------------
$ git checkout -- hello.c
------------
. After working in a wrong branch, switching to the correct
-branch you would want to is done with:
+branch would be done using:
+
------------
$ git checkout mytopic