Deleting remote branches in Git - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the git command to delete a remote branch named feature1?

Use git push origin --delete feature1 to delete the remote branch named feature1.

beginner

Why can't you delete a remote branch using git branch -d?

git branch -d deletes only local branches. To delete remote branches, you must use git push origin --delete <branch-name>.

intermediate

What happens if you try to delete a remote branch that does not exist?

Git will show an error message saying the branch was not found on the remote. No changes happen on the remote repository.

intermediate

How can you verify that a remote branch was deleted successfully?

Run git fetch --prune to update your local list of remote branches, then use git branch -r to see remote branches. The deleted branch should no longer appear.

advanced

What is the difference between git push origin --delete branch and git push origin :branch?

Both commands delete the remote branch named branch. The first is more explicit and easier to understand, while the second uses an older syntax by pushing an empty reference.

Which command deletes a remote branch named bugfix?

A git branch -d bugfix

B git delete branch bugfix

C git remote remove bugfix

D git push origin --delete bugfix

git push origin --delete bugfix deletes the remote branch named bugfix. git branch -d deletes local branches only.

What does git fetch --prune do in relation to remote branches?

A Deletes local branches

B Updates local remote branch list and removes deleted remote branches

C Creates new remote branches

D Pushes local branches to remote

git fetch --prune updates your local list of remote branches and removes references to remote branches that no longer exist.

If you want to delete a remote branch but keep your local copy, what should you do?

A Use <code>git push origin --delete branch</code> only

B Use <code>git branch -d branch</code>

C Delete local branch first

D Use <code>git remote prune origin</code>

Deleting the remote branch with git push origin --delete branch does not affect your local branch.

What will happen if you run git push origin --delete nonexist when nonexist branch does not exist on remote?

A Git will show an error message

B Nothing happens silently

C Local branch will be deleted

D Remote branch will be created

Git will show an error because the branch does not exist on the remote.

Which command is an older syntax to delete a remote branch named test?

A git push origin --delete test

B git branch -d test

C git push origin :test

D git remote delete test

git push origin :test deletes the remote branch test using older syntax by pushing an empty reference.

Explain how to delete a remote branch in git and verify it was deleted.

Think about the push command and how to update your local view of remote branches.

Describe the difference between deleting a local branch and a remote branch in git.

Consider where the branch lives and which commands affect which.