How to Fetch a Branch in Git?

In Git, the git fetch command is essential for keeping your local repository up-to-date with changes in the remote repository. Unlike git pull, which automatically merges changes, git fetch only downloads new data, giving you the opportunity to review it before merging. This blog will walk you through how to fetch a branch in Git, understand what happens during fetching, and when to use it effectively.

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What is git fetch?

git fetch is used to download commits, branches, and other objects from a remote repository to your local Git repository. It doesn’t automatically merge these changes into your current branch, so you can view, compare, and decide when to integrate them. git fetch is useful in scenarios where you want to see the latest changes from collaborators or keep your local branches aligned with remote branches without merging them immediately.

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How to Fetch a Branch in Git

1. Basic Syntax for Fetching

The basic syntax for fetching changes from a remote branch is as follows:

git fetch <remote-name> <branch-name>

In most cases, <remote-name> is origin, which is the default name Git assigns to the primary remote repository.

Example

git fetch origin feature-branch

This command fetches updates from feature-branch on the origin remote, without merging them. Any new commits made to the feature-branch will be downloaded to your local repository, but you won’t see them in your working directory until you decide to merge or check out the branch.

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2. Fetching All Branches

To fetch all branches from a remote repository without specifying each branch individually, use:

git fetch --all

This command is useful when you’re working on multiple branches and want to ensure that all local branches have the latest data from the remote repository.

Example

git fetch --all

This will download all branches and references from the remote repository, updating the local information for each branch. Note that it won’t switch your working branch or merge any changes.

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3. Fetching Changes for a Single Remote

If you have multiple remotes (e.g., origin and upstream), you can specify which remote to fetch from:

git fetch <remote-name>

This command will update information for all branches associated with that specific remote.

Example

git fetch upstream

This command fetches updates from the upstream remote, bringing in the latest changes for all branches available there without merging them into your local branches.

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4. Viewing Fetched Changes

After fetching, you can view the fetched branches and compare changes before merging. Some helpful commands include:

• View All Branches:

  git branch -a

This lists all local and remote branches, allowing you to see what branches are available after fetching.

• View Changes on a Remote Branch:

  git log <local-branch>..<remote-branch>

This shows the differences between your current branch and the remote branch you just fetched. Replace <local-branch> and <remote-branch> with the appropriate branch names.

Example

git log main..origin/main

This command shows the commits on origin/main that are not present on your local main branch, allowing you to review changes before deciding to merge.

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5. Merging Fetched Changes

Once you’ve fetched the latest updates and reviewed the changes, you may want to merge them into your current branch. Here’s how to do it:

1. Fetch the Updates:

   git fetch origin feature-branch

2. Merge the Fetched Changes:

   git merge origin/feature-branch

This command merges the changes from origin/feature-branch into your current branch, integrating the latest updates without switching branches.

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6. Common Use Case: Checking Out a Fetched Branch

After fetching a branch, you can create a local branch to track it directly:

git checkout -b <new-local-branch> <remote-name>/<remote-branch>

This creates a new local branch based on the remote branch and checks it out so you can start working on it right away.

Example

git checkout -b feature-branch origin/feature-branch

This creates a new local branch named feature-branch that tracks origin/feature-branch.

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Summary: Best Practices for Fetching in Git

Using git fetch regularly helps keep your local repository up-to-date without merging changes immediately. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Fetch Often: Periodically run git fetch to stay in sync with the latest changes in the remote repository.
• Review Changes Before Merging: Use git log or other comparison commands to review fetched changes.
• Use git fetch --all for Comprehensive Updates: When working with multiple branches or remotes, git fetch --all is a great way to ensure you have the latest changes across your project.

Keeping up with the latest changes using git fetch allows you to collaborate effectively while maintaining control over what’s merged into your branches.