How to View a List of Remote Branches in Git

When working with Git repositories, it's essential to manage your branches effectively. One common task is to view a list of remote branches. In this article, we'll explore how to do just that using various options and flags available in Git.

The `git branch` command is a powerful tool for managing branches. By default, it lists all local branches. However, you can use the `-r` flag to view remote-tracking branches. To list both local and remote branches, use the `-a` flag along with `-r`. This will display a comprehensive list of branches in your repository.

For instance, if you want to see only the remote-tracking branches, run:

```

git branch -r

```

To view both local and remote branches, use:

```

git branch -a -r

```

You can also filter the output by using shell wildcards. For example, to list only branches containing a specific string, use:

```

git branch *pattern*

```

Replace `*pattern*` with your desired pattern.

When working with multiple patterns, Git will show a branch if it matches any of them. To invert this behavior and show only the branches that don't match a particular pattern, use the `-no-patterns` flag.

If you want to see a list of branches merged into a specific commit or reachable from a commit, use the `-merged` or `-no-merged` flags respectively.

Tips and Tricks

* Use `git switch` to create a new branch and switch to it.

* To leave out at most one of A and B in a merge, you can default to HEAD using `A.B`.

* When providing a pattern, make sure to use the `-list` flag otherwise the command may not work as expected.

By mastering these options and flags, you'll be able to efficiently manage your Git branches and keep track of your remote-tracking branches.

Git remote branch list