git-switch

Switch to an existing branch

$ git switch [branch_name]

$ git switch [[-c|--create]] [branch_name]

$ git switch [[-c|--create]] [branch_name] [commit]

$ git switch -

$ git switch --recurse-submodules [branch_name]

$ git switch [[-m|--merge]] [branch_name]

git switch [-c|-C] <branch> [--] [<pathspec>...]

-c <branch>
    Create a new branch named <branch> and switch to it.

-C <branch>
    Create a new branch named <branch> and switch to it; starting at <start-point> even if a branch of the same name already exists.

--
    Separate branch name from pathspecs.

<pathspec>...
    Limits the scope of the operation to the specified paths.

The git switch command is a convenient way to switch between Git branches. It provides a cleaner and more intuitive interface compared to git checkout, especially for branch switching. git switch creates a new branch if one doesn't exist and then switches to it. If a working tree has modifications and those modifications don't affect the files which will be touched by the branch change, it will complete the switch and keep the modifications, otherwise an error will arise until the work tree is clear. The git switch command simplifies branch management and reduces the likelihood of errors associated with git checkout's dual functionality (branch switching and file restoration). Using git switch promotes clarity and reduces ambiguity in git workflows by keeping branch management and file restoration separate.

Uncommitted changes can prevent branch switching. Stash or commit them before switching.

git switch is not usable to detach HEAD; use git checkout for that.

git switch was introduced in Git version 2.23 as a more user-friendly alternative to git checkout for switching branches. The goal was to separate branch management from file restoration, a source of confusion with git checkout.

git checkout(1), git branch(1), git merge(1)