hub-branch

Show the name of the currently active branch

$ hub branch

$ hub branch [branch_name]

hub branch [options...] [newbranch [start-point]]

-a, --all
    list both remote-tracking and local branches

-r, --remotes
    list remote-tracking branches only (fetches from GitHub)

-d, --delete <branch>…
    delete branch(es), together with remote-tracking branch if it exists

-D
    shortcut for -d --delete-force (-d -f)

-m, --move <branch> <newname>
    rename <branch> to <newname>

-M
    shortcut for -m --move-force (-m -f)

--no-color
    do not colorize the output

--color[={always|never|auto}]
    control colored output (default: auto)

hub branch is a subcommand of the hub CLI tool, which extends git branch functionality with seamless GitHub awareness. It lists local and remote branches, creates new ones, deletes, renames, and more.

Running hub branch without arguments displays local branches, highlighting the current one with an asterisk. Use -r to list remote-tracking branches fetched directly from GitHub, or -a for both local and remote. Creating a branch is simple: hub branch new-feature creates and switches to the new branch based on current HEAD. Hub automatically configures tracking for GitHub remotes.

Deletion with -d removes local branches and their remote counterparts if they exist. Rename via -m. Colors are used by default for readability, configurable with --color or --no-color.

Ideal for GitHub workflows, it reduces manual git fetch calls by querying GitHub API for up-to-date branch lists, enhancing productivity in team environments.

Requires hub installed and GitHub authentication (token or SSH). Not included in standard Linux distributions; install via package managers like brew or apt. Mirrors git branch but adds GitHub API calls which may fail without network/auth.

hub branch new-feature
Creates local branch new-feature from current HEAD and checks it out.

hub branch new-feature origin/main
Creates from specific start-point.

hub branch -d old-branch
Deletes local and pushes deletion to GitHub remote.

Introduced in early versions of hub (circa 2011) by Miroslav Bajtoš (mislav). Evolved with GitHub CLI features until 2021, when hub was archived in favor of gh (GitHub CLI), but remains widely used.

git-branch(1), hub(1)