git-checkout

git checkout [options] branch|commit|file

git checkout switches branches or restores files. It updates the working tree to match the specified branch, commit, or file version from history.The command serves multiple purposes: branch switching, branch creation with -b, file restoration with --, and detached HEAD operations. Since Git 2.23, the recommended approach is git switch for branches and git restore for files, which provide clearer separation of concerns.Despite the newer alternatives, git checkout remains widely used for its versatility and is deeply embedded in existing workflows, documentation, and scripts.

BRANCH

Branch to switch to.

Create and switch to new branch.

Set up tracking for remote branch.

Restore file from index.

Force switch, discard changes.

Detach HEAD at the named commit instead of updating a branch.

Interactively select hunks to restore from the index or tree.

Perform a 3-way merge between the current branch, your local changes, and the new branch.

Create orphan branch.

Display help information.

Uncommitted changes may be lost with -f. Detached HEAD requires care. Consider git switch/restore for clarity.

git checkout is an original Git command that combines several operations. Git 2.23 introduced git switch and git restore as clearer alternatives.

git-switch(1), git-restore(1), git-branch(1)

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