SYNOPSIS
--------
[verse]
-'git branch' [--color[=<when>] | --no-color] [-r | -a]
- [--list] [--show-current] [-v [--abbrev=<length> | --no-abbrev]]
+'git branch' [--color[=<when>] | --no-color] [--show-current]
+ [-v [--abbrev=<length> | --no-abbrev]]
[--column[=<options>] | --no-column] [--sort=<key>]
[(--merged | --no-merged) [<commit>]]
[--contains [<commit]] [--no-contains [<commit>]]
- [--points-at <object>] [--format=<format>] [<pattern>...]
+ [--points-at <object>] [--format=<format>]
+ [(-r | --remotes) | (-a | --all)]
+ [--list] [<pattern>...]
'git branch' [--track | --no-track] [-f] <branchname> [<start-point>]
'git branch' (--set-upstream-to=<upstream> | -u <upstream>) [<branchname>]
'git branch' --unset-upstream [<branchname>]
marked with an asterisk. Any branches checked out in linked worktrees will
be highlighted in cyan and marked with a plus sign. Option `-r` causes the
remote-tracking branches to be listed,
-and option `-a` shows both local and remote branches. If a `<pattern>`
+and option `-a` shows both local and remote branches.
+
+If a `<pattern>`
is given, it is used as a shell wildcard to restrict the output to
matching branches. If multiple patterns are given, a branch is shown if
-it matches any of the patterns. Note that when providing a
-`<pattern>`, you must use `--list`; otherwise the command is interpreted
+it matches any of the patterns.
+
+Note that when providing a
+`<pattern>`, you must use `--list`; otherwise the command may be interpreted
as branch creation.
With `--contains`, shows only the branches that contain the named commit
-r::
--remotes::
List or delete (if used with -d) the remote-tracking branches.
+ Combine with `--list` to match the optional pattern(s).
-a::
--all::
List both remote-tracking branches and local branches.
+ Combine with `--list` to match optional pattern(s).
-l::
--list::
<2> Delete the "test" branch even if the "master" branch (or whichever branch
is currently checked out) does not have all commits from the test branch.
+Listing branches from a specific remote::
++
+------------
+$ git branch -r -l '<remote>/<pattern>' <1>
+$ git for-each-ref 'refs/remotes/<remote>/<pattern>' <2>
+------------
++
+<1> Using `-a` would conflate <remote> with any local branches you happen to
+ have been prefixed with the same <remote> pattern.
+<2> `for-each-ref` can take a wide range of options. See linkgit:git-for-each-ref[1]
+
+Patterns will normally need quoting.
NOTES
-----
strbuf_release(&buf);
} else if (argc > 0 && argc <= 2) {
if (filter.kind != FILTER_REFS_BRANCHES)
- die(_("-a and -r options to 'git branch' do not make sense with a branch name"));
+ die(_("The -a, and -r, options to 'git branch' do not take a branch name.\n"
+ "Did you mean to use: -a|-r --list <pattern>?"));
if (track == BRANCH_TRACK_OVERRIDE)
die(_("the '--set-upstream' option is no longer supported. Please use '--track' or '--set-upstream-to' instead."));