git-symbolic-ref

Show HEAD target

TLDR

Show HEAD target

$ git symbolic-ref HEAD

Set HEAD to branch

$ git symbolic-ref HEAD refs/heads/main

Get short name

$ git symbolic-ref --short HEAD

Delete symbolic ref

$ git symbolic-ref -d HEAD

SYNOPSIS

git symbolic-ref [options] name [ref]

git symbolic-ref reads and modifies symbolic references. HEAD is the most common symbolic ref, pointing to the current branch.
The command shows where HEAD points (which branch is checked out) or changes it. It's a plumbing command used by checkout and branch operations.
git symbolic-ref manages symbolic references like HEAD.

PARAMETERS

NAME

Symbolic ref name (usually HEAD).

REF

Target ref to set.

--short

Show short name.

-d, --delete

Delete symbolic ref.

-q, --quiet

Quiet mode.

--help

Display help information.

CAVEATS

Plumbing command. HEAD is most common use. Detached HEAD is not a symbolic ref.

HISTORY

git symbolic-ref is a core Git plumbing command for managing symbolic references, fundamental to branch tracking.