Branches

Create, delete, and set the default branch from the repository's Branches page. See Branches & Tags for the read-only listing itself, including how the ahead/behind count shown next to each branch is always measured against the current default branch.

Create a Branch

Give the new branch a name and a starting point - any existing branch, tag, or commit hash. The branch is created pointing at that ref; creating a branch never changes the default branch or any other branch.

Delete a Branch

A branch with no unmerged commits ahead of the default branch deletes with a single confirmation. A branch that does have unmerged commits ahead requires typing its exact name into a confirmation field before the deletion is accepted, since deleting it discards those commits from the branch. The default branch itself cannot be deleted - set a different default first.

Set the Default Branch

Changing the default branch updates which branch most other operations target by default - browsing the repository root, the merge form's target, and the ahead/behind comparison on this page. The branch you switch to must already exist in the repository.

All three actions require write access to the repository, and each one can be temporarily refused with a "repository busy" response while another write is in progress - see Merge for details.