Branches

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

List branches

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 protected branches. 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). Default: `30`
`page` integer Page number of the results to fetch. Default: `1`

HTTP response status codes for "List branches"

Status code	Description
`200`	OK
`404`	Resource not found

Code samples for "List branches"

get/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  https://HOSTNAME/api/v3/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

Works with GitHub Apps

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 code	Description
`200`	OK
`301`	Moved permanently
`404`	Resource not found

Code samples for "Get a branch"

get/repos/{owner}/{repo}/branches/{branch}

curl -L \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  https://HOSTNAME/api/v3/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"
}

Sync a fork branch with the upstream repository

Works with GitHub Apps

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

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 code	Description
`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"

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/merge-upstream

curl -L \
  -X POST \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  https://HOSTNAME/api/v3/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

Works with GitHub Apps

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 code	Description
`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"

post/repos/{owner}/{repo}/merges

curl -L \
  -X POST \
  -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR-TOKEN>" \
  https://HOSTNAME/api/v3/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....."
    }
  ]
}