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The REST API is now versioned. For more information, see "About API versioning."

REST API endpoints for branches

Use the REST API to modify branches and their protection settings.

List branches

Fine-grained access tokens for "List branches"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

  • "Contents" repository permissions (read)

This endpoint can be used without authentication or the aforementioned permissions if only public resources are requested.

Parameters for "List branches"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
accept string

Setting to application/vnd.github+json is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
owner string Required

The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.

repo string Required

The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.

Query parameters
Name, Type, Description
protected boolean

Setting to true returns only branches protected by branch protections or rulesets. When set to false, only unprotected branches are returned. Omitting this parameter returns all branches.

per_page integer

The number of results per page (max 100). For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API."

Default: 30

page integer

The page number of the results to fetch. For more information, see "Using pagination in the REST API."

Default: 1

HTTP response status codes for "List branches"

Status codeDescription
200

OK

404

Resource not found

Code samples for "List branches"

Request example

get/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches
curl -L \ -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \ -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \ https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/branches

Response

Status: 200
[ { "name": "master", "commit": { "sha": "c5b97d5ae6c19d5c5df71a34c7fbeeda2479ccbc", "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/c5b97d5ae6c19d5c5df71a34c7fbeeda2479ccbc" }, "protected": true, "protection": { "required_status_checks": { "enforcement_level": "non_admins", "contexts": [ "ci-test", "linter" ] } }, "protection_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/hello-world/branches/master/protection" } ]

Get a branch

Fine-grained access tokens for "Get a branch"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

  • "Contents" repository permissions (read)

This endpoint can be used without authentication or the aforementioned permissions if only public resources are requested.

Parameters for "Get a branch"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
accept string

Setting to application/vnd.github+json is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
owner string Required

The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.

repo string Required

The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.

branch string Required

The name of the branch. Cannot contain wildcard characters. To use wildcard characters in branch names, use the GraphQL API.

HTTP response status codes for "Get a branch"

Status codeDescription
200

OK

301

Moved permanently

404

Resource not found

Code samples for "Get a branch"

Request example

get/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches/{branch}
curl -L \ -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \ -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \ https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/branches/BRANCH

Response

Status: 200
{ "name": "main", "commit": { "sha": "7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d", "node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0MTI5NjI2OTo3ZmQxYTYwYjAxZjkxYjMxNGY1OTk1NWE0ZTRkNGU4MGQ4ZWRmMTFk", "commit": { "author": { "name": "The Octocat", "email": "octocat@nowhere.com", "date": "2012-03-06T23:06:50Z" }, "committer": { "name": "The Octocat", "email": "octocat@nowhere.com", "date": "2012-03-06T23:06:50Z" }, "message": "Merge pull request #6 from Spaceghost/patch-1\n\nNew line at end of file.", "tree": { "sha": "b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608", "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/trees/b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608" }, "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d", "comment_count": 77, "verification": { "verified": false, "reason": "unsigned", "signature": null, "payload": null } }, "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d", "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d/comments", "author": { "login": "octocat", "id": 583231, "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjU4MzIzMQ==", "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/583231?v=4", "gravatar_id": "", "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat", "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers", "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}", "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}", "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}", "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions", "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs", "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos", "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}", "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events", "type": "User", "site_admin": false }, "committer": { "login": "octocat", "id": 583231, "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjU4MzIzMQ==", "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/583231?v=4", "gravatar_id": "", "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat", "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers", "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}", "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}", "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}", "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions", "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs", "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos", "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}", "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events", "type": "User", "site_admin": false }, "parents": [ { "sha": "553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e", "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e" }, { "sha": "762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303", "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303" } ] }, "_links": { "self": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/main", "html": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/tree/main" }, "protected": false, "protection": { "enabled": false, "required_status_checks": { "enforcement_level": "off", "contexts": [], "checks": [] } }, "protection_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/main/protection" }

Rename a branch

Renames a branch in a repository.

Note

Although the API responds immediately, the branch rename process might take some extra time to complete in the background. You won't be able to push to the old branch name while the rename process is in progress. For more information, see "Renaming a branch".

The authenticated user must have push access to the branch. If the branch is the default branch, the authenticated user must also have admin or owner permissions.

In order to rename the default branch, fine-grained access tokens also need the administration:write repository permission.

Fine-grained access tokens for "Rename a branch"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

  • "Contents" repository permissions (write)

Parameters for "Rename a branch"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
accept string

Setting to application/vnd.github+json is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
owner string Required

The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.

repo string Required

The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.

branch string Required

The name of the branch. Cannot contain wildcard characters. To use wildcard characters in branch names, use the GraphQL API.

Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
new_name string Required

The new name of the branch.

HTTP response status codes for "Rename a branch"

Status codeDescription
201

Created

403

Forbidden

404

Resource not found

422

Validation failed, or the endpoint has been spammed.

Code samples for "Rename a branch"

Request example

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches/{branch}/rename
curl -L \ -X POST \ -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \ -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \ https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/branches/BRANCH/rename \ -d '{"new_name":"my_renamed_branch"}'

Response

Status: 201
{ "name": "master", "commit": { "sha": "7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d", "node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0N2ZkMWE2MGIwMWY5MWIzMTRmNTk5NTVhNGU0ZDRlODBkOGVkZjExZA==", "commit": { "author": { "name": "The Octocat", "date": "2012-03-06T15:06:50-08:00", "email": "octocat@nowhere.com" }, "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d", "message": "Merge pull request #6 from Spaceghost/patch-1\n\nNew line at end of file.", "tree": { "sha": "b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608", "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/trees/b4eecafa9be2f2006ce1b709d6857b07069b4608" }, "committer": { "name": "The Octocat", "date": "2012-03-06T15:06:50-08:00", "email": "octocat@nowhere.com" }, "verification": { "verified": false, "reason": "unsigned", "signature": null, "payload": null }, "comment_count": 0 }, "author": { "gravatar_id": "", "avatar_url": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7ad39074b0584bc555d0417ae3e7d974?d=https://a248.e.akamai.net/assets.github.com%2Fimages%2Fgravatars%2Fgravatar-140.png", "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat", "id": 583231, "login": "octocat", "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat", "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers", "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}", "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}", "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}", "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions", "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs", "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos", "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}", "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events", "type": "User", "site_admin": true }, "parents": [ { "sha": "553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e", "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/553c2077f0edc3d5dc5d17262f6aa498e69d6f8e" }, { "sha": "762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303", "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/762941318ee16e59dabbacb1b4049eec22f0d303" } ], "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/7fd1a60b01f91b314f59955a4e4d4e80d8edf11d", "committer": { "gravatar_id": "", "avatar_url": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7ad39074b0584bc555d0417ae3e7d974?d=https://a248.e.akamai.net/assets.github.com%2Fimages%2Fgravatars%2Fgravatar-140.png", "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat", "id": 583231, "login": "octocat", "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat", "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers", "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}", "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}", "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}", "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions", "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs", "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos", "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}", "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events", "type": "User", "site_admin": true }, "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e", "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments" }, "_links": { "html": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/tree/master", "self": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/branches/master" }, "protected": true, "protection": { "required_status_checks": { "enforcement_level": "non_admins", "contexts": [ "ci-test", "linter" ] } }, "protection_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/hello-world/branches/master/protection" }

Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository

Sync a branch of a forked repository to keep it up-to-date with the upstream repository.

Fine-grained access tokens for "Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

  • "Contents" repository permissions (write)

Parameters for "Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
accept string

Setting to application/vnd.github+json is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
owner string Required

The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.

repo string Required

The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.

Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
branch string Required

The name of the branch which should be updated to match upstream.

HTTP response status codes for "Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository"

Status codeDescription
200

The branch has been successfully synced with the upstream repository

409

The branch could not be synced because of a merge conflict

422

The branch could not be synced for some other reason

Code samples for "Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository"

Request example

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/merge-upstream
curl -L \ -X POST \ -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \ -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \ https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/merge-upstream \ -d '{"branch":"main"}'

The branch has been successfully synced with the upstream repository

Status: 200
{ "message": "Successfully fetched and fast-forwarded from upstream defunkt:main", "merge_type": "fast-forward", "base_branch": "defunkt:main" }

Merge a branch

Fine-grained access tokens for "Merge a branch"

This endpoint works with the following fine-grained token types:

The fine-grained token must have the following permission set:

  • "Contents" repository permissions (write)

Parameters for "Merge a branch"

Headers
Name, Type, Description
accept string

Setting to application/vnd.github+json is recommended.

Path parameters
Name, Type, Description
owner string Required

The account owner of the repository. The name is not case sensitive.

repo string Required

The name of the repository without the .git extension. The name is not case sensitive.

Body parameters
Name, Type, Description
base string Required

The name of the base branch that the head will be merged into.

head string Required

The head to merge. This can be a branch name or a commit SHA1.

commit_message string

Commit message to use for the merge commit. If omitted, a default message will be used.

HTTP response status codes for "Merge a branch"

Status codeDescription
201

Successful Response (The resulting merge commit)

204

Response when already merged

403

Forbidden

404

Not Found when the base or head does not exist

409

Conflict when there is a merge conflict

422

Validation failed, or the endpoint has been spammed.

Code samples for "Merge a branch"

Request example

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/merges
curl -L \ -X POST \ -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \ -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \ https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/merges \ -d '{"base":"master","head":"cool_feature","commit_message":"Shipped cool_feature!"}'

Successful Response (The resulting merge commit)

Status: 201
{ "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e", "sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e", "node_id": "MDY6Q29tbWl0NmRjYjA5YjViNTc4NzVmMzM0ZjYxYWViZWQ2OTVlMmU0MTkzZGI1ZQ==", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/commit/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e", "comments_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e/comments", "commit": { "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/git/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e", "author": { "name": "Monalisa Octocat", "email": "mona@github.com", "date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z" }, "committer": { "name": "Monalisa Octocat", "email": "mona@github.com", "date": "2011-04-14T16:00:49Z" }, "message": "Fix all the bugs", "tree": { "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/tree/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e", "sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e" }, "comment_count": 0, "verification": { "verified": false, "reason": "unsigned", "signature": null, "payload": null } }, "author": { "login": "octocat", "id": 1, "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=", "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif", "gravatar_id": "", "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat", "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers", "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}", "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}", "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}", "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions", "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs", "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos", "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}", "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events", "type": "User", "site_admin": false }, "committer": { "login": "octocat", "id": 1, "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjE=", "avatar_url": "https://github.com/images/error/octocat_happy.gif", "gravatar_id": "", "url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat", "html_url": "https://github.com/octocat", "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/followers", "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/following{/other_user}", "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/gists{/gist_id}", "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/starred{/owner}{/repo}", "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/subscriptions", "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/orgs", "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/repos", "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/events{/privacy}", "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/octocat/received_events", "type": "User", "site_admin": false }, "parents": [ { "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/octocat/Hello-World/commits/6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e", "sha": "6dcb09b5b57875f334f61aebed695e2e4193db5e" } ], "stats": { "additions": 104, "deletions": 4, "total": 108 }, "files": [ { "filename": "file1.txt", "additions": 10, "deletions": 2, "changes": 12, "status": "modified", "raw_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/raw/7ca483543807a51b6079e54ac4cc392bc29ae284/file1.txt", "blob_url": "https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World/blob/7ca483543807a51b6079e54ac4cc392bc29ae284/file1.txt", "patch": "@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@\n....." } ] }