How Do I Get the Current Branch Name in Git?

Git branches are essential components of a Git repository. Most developers utilized the Git branches to save test code, maintain source code, or implement different contexts. More specifically, branches are further categorized into “remote” branches that are accessible remotely and “local” branches that exist in local machines.

This tutorial will teach you the method for getting the name of the current branch in Git.

Get Current Branch Name in Git

The branch in which you work is referred to as your current branch, and by default, it can be either the main or master branch. Moreover, users can create new branches and also switch between them.

To check out the current branch name, first, move to the Git repository and initialize it. Then, find the current branch name.

To do so, check out the listed steps.

Step 1: Open Git Bash

First, launch the Git Bash terminal from the Start menu:

Step 2: Navigate to Git Repository

Open the required Git repository by utilizing the “cd” command:

$ cd "C:\Git"

Step 3: Initialize Git Repository

Next, initialize the Git repository using provided command:

$ git init

Step 4: List Down All Branches

To list down all branches of the Git repository, execute the “git branch” command along with the “-a” flag:

$ git branch -a

The branch with the “*” sign represents the current branch name:

Step 5: Access Current Branch

More specifically, user can access the Git current branch using “–show-current” flag:

$ git branch --show-current

It can be observed that “main” is our current branch that is listed below:

We have taught you how to access the current branch name in Git.

Conclusion

To access the current branch name in Git, first open the Git Bash terminal, navigate to the Git local repository and initialize it. Next, utilize the “git branch” command along with the “–show-current” flag to access the current branch name. This write-up has elaborated on the method for getting the current branch name in Git.