When managing a Git repository, it’s crucial to understand your branching structure — especially when working with multiple features, bug fixes, or collaborating in a team. Git makes it easy to list branches, whether they exist locally or on a remote server like GitHub or GitLab.
In this post, you’ll learn how to list all branches in Git, including local and remote branches, using simple terminal commands.
📍 List Local Branches
To see all branches that exist on your local machine, run:
git branch
Example Output:
* main
feature/login
hotfix/session-timeout
- The
*indicates the branch you are currently on. - These branches are available for immediate checkout and development.
🌐 List Remote Branches
To view branches that exist on the remote repository (like GitHub):
git branch -r
Example Output:
origin/main
origin/feature/login
origin/bugfix/payment-error
These are the branches hosted on the remote but not necessarily checked out locally.
🔀 List All Branches (Local + Remote)
To view all branches — both local and remote — use:
git branch -a
Example Output:
* main
feature/login
remotes/origin/main
remotes/origin/feature/login
This gives you a complete picture of your project’s branches.
🔄 Update Remote References
Before listing remote branches, make sure your local repo has the latest information:
git fetch --all
This command updates your local references with the latest branches and changes from the remote.
🧹 Optional: Clean Up Deleted Remote Branches
To remove references to branches that were deleted from the remote:
git remote prune origin
This keeps your branch list clean and accurate.
✅ Summary of Commands
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| List local branches | git branch |
| List remote branches | git branch -r |
| List all branches | git branch -a |
| Fetch latest branches | git fetch --all |
| Prune deleted remote branches | git remote prune origin |
🧠 Conclusion
Knowing how to list branches in Git is essential for navigating your codebase, collaborating with teams, and keeping your workflow organized. Whether you’re switching branches, reviewing code, or cleaning up stale branches — these commands are invaluable.
